Girls' future weight depends largely on self-image

Teenagers face pressure from friends and the opposite sex on a daily basis, right? We've all been a party to that age, but then again, some teens can be their own worst enemy.

A study involving 4,000 teen girls concluded that the way many of them view themselves on the all-important social ladder may affect swings in her future weight. In the study's results, those that rated themselves low on the popularity totem pole were 69 percent more likely to gain weight in later years. The average: 11 pounds.

Those girls that viewed themselves as popular (higher on the totem pole) also gained weight -- but only to the tune of 6.5 pounds.

If you have a teenage daughter, do you know where she perceived herself in the social ring of school and friends? Some shun popularity while others crave it -- all for different reasons. It's just sad that lower perceptions lead to weight gain later (possibly, unhealthy weight gain). Life isn't a popularity contest, is it?