Understanding childhood weight bias: Laying the foundation for promoting positive body image

This study interviewed 131 kindergarten children in China regarding their perspectives on body size-related bias and associated behavioral tendencies using a case study design. Results showed that body satisfaction was prevalent among this group of young children. Similar to studies conducted in Western cultures targeting young children, body weight bias was evident among this group of Chinese kindergarteners with a strong preference for thinner body types, regardless of their genders. Qualitative findings indicated that weight bias could influence children's behaviors, with a tendency to select friends who either share similar body sizes or have slimmer body types. Meanwhile, children with higher body weight may be perceived as a “protector” prototype, a distinctive discovery and contribution to current literature. Findings also suggested a significant peer influence on body size perception, with family members also playing a role. However, the absence of media influence in the current study highlights the need to reconsider the tripartite model’s applicability in non-Western cultural contexts and distinct age groups, offering a unique contribution to the body image literature with young children.