Labeling Juvenile Obesity Weight and appearance are the cornerstone of damage or tenderness to a person's self-esteem. Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. A BMI chart uses the numbers obtained from your index to calculate your body mass and classify your body size based on where you are on the chart. Terms such as overweight and obese are used to describe the upper extremes. These terms present multiple forms of social prejudice and therefore should not be used to label those who are overweight. Labels such as obese have negative connotations and when applied to a person can have devastating psychological effects. Mild depressive disorders, body dissatisfaction, and psychological maladjustment are common ailments among those who struggle with being labeled obese. Children with these labels are at greater risk of being subjected to social abuse over time. Society should eliminate weight classifications and labels to prevent young people from being exposed to social degradation at a young age. The negative implications associated with labels harm children coping with weight in several ways. According to a National Institute of Child Health and Human Development study, overweight/obese youth are more likely to experience impaired peer relationships, stigma, and weight bias than their normal-weight peers. (Farhat, Ianotti, & Simons-Morton, 2010) Interaction with other children is a crucial aspect of social development. Through peer relationships, young people develop the skills needed to function adequately in society as adults. Stigmatization can lead the child to feel ashamed of their appearance, which can negatively impact the health of their self-esteem and potentially... rejection, discrimination and negative stereotypes and such experiences could lead to negative consequences in terms of self-image, self-esteem and mood. More people would benefit from stopping obesity classification. These labels are much less likely to serve as positive motivation for a healthier lifestyle. If we stopped labeling children overweight and obese, continuing to apply positive reinforcement towards physical well-being, the result would produce a greater number of young people willing to develop healthy habits. With a weakened level of self-esteem, that will and motivation will not exist. The negative connotations associated with obesity labeling are harmful to young people and will make it difficult for them to transition into adulthood.