Association of overweight and obesity with psychological problems in school children

Identifier:  imarina:5761839

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/imarina5761839

Authors:  Canals-Sans J; Blanco-Gómez A; Luque V; Ferré N; Morales-Hidalgo P; Closa-Monasterolo R; Escribano J

Abstract:
© Asociación Española de Psicología Clínica y Psicopatología. This study researched the relationship between overweight/obesity and psychological problems in children, emphasizing the interactive effects of gender, body dissatisfaction (BD) and socioeconomic status (SES). A total of 515 children with a mean age of 8.5 from Reus (Spain) were measured for weight and height and answered the Figure Rating Scale. Parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist. Children with obesity showed the greatest BD, were significantly more withdrawn/depressed (12.9% versus 3.2%) and had more aggressive behavior (9.7% versus 1.6%) than normal weight children (p = .04). The overweight and overweight/obese groups showed more somatic complaints than normal weight children (17.3% and 19.4% versus 9.4%; p = .007). The internalizing dimension, together with BD, was significantly related to the overweight/obese condition. Specifically, children with somatic complaints had a 2.64-fold increased probability of being overweight/obese. However, BD and SES did not mediate the relationship between internalizing problems and obesity. The study results support the relationship between obesity and internalizing problems in childhood.