Early stigmatization of obese children may explain their lower self-esteem and greater shame, humiliation, and perceived teasing compared with their nonobese peers. Studies have found increased psychopathology among clinical samples of obese children and demonstrated improvements in psychological functioning with weight loss. Implementing lifestyle changes during early adolescence, ages 10 to 13 years, and middle adolescence, ages 14 to 16 years, may hold the key for preventing obesity and depression.