Associations of Body Mass Index and Perceived Weight With Suicide Ideation and Suicide Attempts Among US High School Students

This study sought to determine if body mass index & perceived weight are associated significantly with suicide ideation & attempts, controlling for weight control practices, & if perceived weight mediates the associations of body mass index with suicide ideation & suicide attempts. Data were analyzed from the 2001 Youth Risk Behaviour Survey. Body mass index category was associated significantly with suicide ideation (all students) & suicide attempts (among white & Hispanic students) without perceived weight in the model. How adolescents perceive their body wieght may be more important than their actual weight in terms of increased likelihood of suicidal behaviour. (31 refs.)