Feeling Fat = Weight Gain - ABC 33/40 - Birmingham News, Weather, Sports

Do you feel fat? Don't think about it.  A new study shows that just feeling fat can have an impact on your weight.  A new study shows it did for normal weight teens who participated in the study.

The Norwegian study found that a negative self-image may play a key role in driving teens toward obesity.

It indicated that teens who think they're too heavy are the ones most likely to be overweight by early adulthood.

Among both girls and boys who were normal weight as teens but felt fat, 59 percent of the girls became overweight as women and 63 percent of the boys became overweight as men.

Experts advise parents to avoid telling teenagers they look fat or need to lose weight, and focus on creating a healthy, physically active environment at home.