Übergewicht und Adipositas bei Kindern und Jugendlichen stellen ein weltweit zunehmendes Gesundheitsproblem dar und sind zur häufigsten chronischen Erkrankung des Kindes- und Jugendalters in der entwickelten Welt geworden. Nicht nur die Prävalenz der Adipositas ist in den letzten 25 Jahren gestiegen, sondern auch der absolute BMI. Die kindliche Adipositas stellt nicht nur ein kosmetisches Problem dar, sondern einen Risikofaktor etwa für Herzerkrankungen, Diabetes mellitus oder Störungen des Bewegungsapparates. Voraussetzung für erfolgreiche Präventions- und Interventionsprogramme ist ein Bewusstsein für Übergewicht und der Wille zur Gewichtsreduktion bei den betroffenen Kindern sowie bei deren Eltern. Diese Dissertation hat daher zwei Ziele: Zunächst wird untersucht, wie Kinder sich und ihren Körper im Vergleich zum tatsächlichen Gewichtsstatus einschätzen. Darüber hinaus wird der Frage nachgegangen, ob Eltern das Vorliegen von Übergewicht oder Adipositas bei ihrem Kind erkennen. Die Dissertation besteht aus einem Artikel. Darin wird gezeigt, dass die meisten Kinder und Jugendlichen sowie ihre Eltern die Adipositas als ein Gesundheitsproblem erkennen. Eine Mehrheit der Kinder und Jugendlichen schätzt ihren eigenen Gewichtsstatus realistisch ein. Die Mehrheit der Eltern erkennt zumindest Übergewicht bei ihrem Kind. Das Ausmaß wird jedoch häufig unterschätzt.

In recent years social media use has increased rapidly among teenagers. Extensive research has shown that adolescence is a crucial time for development where teenagers are more susceptible to impressions and external influences. This study investigates the negative effects that highly visual social media use has on adolescents and their selfesteem. The aim of this study is to inform digital media producers about the potentially harmful consequences by highlighting the impact of exposure to appearance-related content. It is hoped that this research will contribute to a deeper understanding of the issue and further aid digital media producers in designing social platforms in order to improve teenagers’ experiences of social media. A literature study was conducted, where 18 articles were reviewed and analysed using a five-step content analysis. Findings suggest that teenagers (12-19 years old) exposed to visual content focused on appearance are more likely to develop body image concerns and make appearance-related comparisons in social media. Three key themes affecting teenagers’ self-esteem emerged in the study: “The need for approval”, “Comparisons in social media” and “Time spent on social media”. It is indicated that adolescent girls and those that already have low self-esteem are more affected by visual content on social media. The amount of feedback received from peers and frequency of exposure to idealised images were shown to have significant impact on body- and self-esteem. Our conclusion is that digital media producers have the opportunity to make design choices and optimize social platforms in order to reduce negative effects that social media may have on adolescents' self-esteem.

Kroppsuppfattning påverkar vår livskvalitet. Utöver att prestera på tävling behöver tyngdlyftare och styrkelyftare delta på en invägning, där deras kroppsvikt avgör vilken viktklass de tävlar i. Syftet med studien var att undersöka om det fanns ett samband mellan lyftares kroppsuppfattning och upplevelse av att vara aktiv och tävlande inom tyngdlyftning och/eller styrkelyft. Metod: 210 svenska tyngdlyftare och styrkelyftare med tävlingserfarenhet i åldrarna 15–70 år deltog i studien. Deltagarna svarade på en digital enkät som inkluderade ett av författaren nyskapat instrument om förekomst av beteenden och upplevelser av att tävla i en viktklassidrott, samt Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults om kroppsuppfattning. Resultat: Signifikant positiva korrelationer av måttlig styrka påvisades mellan kroppsuppfattning och tävlingsupplevelse, samt mellan kroppsuppfattning och viktupplevelse. Svag positiv korrelation påvisades mellan kroppsuppfattning och invägningsupplevelse. 60 % av studiedeltagarna rapporterade positiv kroppsuppfattning och 40 % rapporterade blandad/splittrad eller negativ kroppsuppfattning. Slutsats: Studiens resultat indikerar att kroppsuppfattning och upplevelse av att tävla, upplevelse av sin kroppsvikt och att tävla i viktklass(er), samt upplevelse av invägning har ett samband. Då 40 % av populationen rapporterade blandad/splittrad eller negativ kroppsuppfattning tyder resultaten på praktiska förbättringsmöjligheter där idrottares kroppsuppfattning kan förbättras. / Body image affects our quality of life. In addition to performing in competition, weightlifters and powerlifters need to participate in a weigh-in, where their body weight determines which weight class they compete in. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether there was a relationship between lifters’ body image and experience of being active and competing in weightlifting and/or powerlifting. Method: 210 Swedish weightlifters and powerlifters with competition experience aged 15–70 years participated in the study. The participants responded to a digital questionnaire that included an instrument newly created by the author on the prevalence of behaviours and experiences of competing in a weight class sport, as well as the Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults. Results: Positive correlations of statistical significance and of moderate strength were found between body image and competition experience, as well as between body image and weight experience. Weak positive correlation was demonstrated between body image and weigh-in experience. 60 % of the participants reported positive body image and 40 % reported mixed/split or negative body image. Conclusion: The results of the study indicate a relationship between body image and experience of competing, experience of one's body weight and competing in weight class(es), as well as experience of weigh-ins. As 40 % of the population reported mixed/split or negative body image, the results indicate practical opportunities where athletes’ body image can be improved.

Background: Career ending injuries are known to cause negative psychosocial and behavioural outcomes in retired athletes. However, there has been a limited amount of quantitative studies to complement mostly qualitative research. Furthermore, qualitative studies have typically assessed the effects of athletic identity, mental health/mood disturbances, loss, coping mechanisms and social support with minimal research regarding physical body transitions and body-esteem throughout the retirement process. Thus, the purpose of this thesis was to investigate the relationship between affective, behavioural, and cognitive outcomes and athletic retirement (voluntary, involuntary) among elite and competitive athletes. Method: A retrospective mixed method (questionnaire and interview) study was utilized to examine how participants interpreted their experience during the transitional process into retirement. Inclusion criteria consisted of male and female, elite and competitive athletes who have voluntarily or involuntarily (career ending injury) retired, ages 18 and above. Exclusion criteria included non-athletes/recreational athletes, athletes who were able to return to play or retired due to illness, health problems or deselection as well as who were less than 18 years of age. Posters were advertised in sports clubs, fitness centers, sports centers, physiotherapy offices and universities as well as on social media (Facebook and Instagram). The main outcome measures are as follows:1) Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS); 2) Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ), 3) Mental Health and 4) COPE Inventory. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants from both retirement (voluntary and involuntary) groups. All interviews (telephone, zoom) were recorded, transcribed verbatim and a thematic analysis was implemented to further determine the various themes and subthemes. An independent t-test explored the impacts of body dimensions and coping mechanisms on retirement type. Then a factorial ANOVA was conducted to examine the effects of the dependent variables (mental health, mood disturbances and coping mechanisms) on the main analysis (retirement) and the exploratory (strength of athletic identity) analysis. Results: 50 (26 involuntary and 24 voluntary) questionnaires and eight (four voluntary and four involuntary) interviews were completed by the participants. Results from the quantitative data revealed a borderline main effect of retirement type on both mental health and mood disturbances. An exploratory analysis found retirees who weakly identified with the athletic role were less likely to experience severe mood disturbances and demonstrated higher levels of mental health than retirees who strongly identified with the athletic role. Information from qualitative data suggested participants who involuntarily retired and possessed a strong athletic identity experienced higher levels of mood disturbances (depression, frustrations, loss etc.), lower levels of mental health, identity loss, physical discomfort, negative effects of mind and body dualism as well as utilized maladaptive coping techniques than their counterpart who voluntarily retired or weakly identified with the athletic role. Conclusion: Both retirement types are subjected to various athletic and non-athletic demands and psychosocial effects of athletic retirement however, what sets them apart from experiencing a successful or unsuccessful transition into retirement is the intensity and severity of their emotional reaction to their retirement. Limitations of said study included a decrease in sample size, memory recall bias, the participant’s own bias, limited diversity of the sample population as well as the inability to verify the findings from the interviews. The following study can be implemented to aid researchers, retired or soon to be retired athletes, coaches and athletic personnel to comprehend the diverse areas of athletic retirement. Future research should aim to investigate the impacts of mood disorders, the utilization of psychologist or mental performance consultant during the retirement process as well as the effects of body dimensions in retired athletes. Lastly, a longitudinal study should be employed to examine the athlete’s emotional response and reaction throughout retirement (time of injury, during physiotherapy, post- surgery and recovery). / Graduate