Weight affects kids' behaviour

As early as kindergarten, kids who are overweight feel more lonely and anxious than their normal-weight peers. And for those who are persistently overweight from kindergarten through third grade, the feelings of depression, anxiety and loneliness get worse over time.

The researchers identified 8,000 children and divided them into three different groups: those who were overweight through kindergarten, first grade and third grade; kids who were only overweight as third graders; and kids who were never overweight. The researchers looked at teachers' perceptions of students in kindergarten, first grade, and third grade, and also had children fill out questionnaires about their own well-being.

The teachers rated the girls who were overweight throughout the study, as well as those who were only overweight in third grade, as having worse interpersonal skills than girls who were never overweight. They also viewed overweight girls as having less self-control, and the differences seen between the heavy girls and normal-weight girls increased over time.

However, a boy's weight status had no influence on how a teacher perceived his social or self-control skills. Overweight boys were actually found having fewer aggressive, acting-out behaviours than normal weight boys, while the opposite was true for girls, with overweight girls seen as showing more of these externalising behaviours.

Children who were overweight at any point during the study also perceived themselves as having worse interpersonal skills, lower social standing, and worse peer relationships.

The overweight children also reported having more internalising behaviours, such as social withdrawal or depression. Therefore, it is important to manage weight problems in children to prevent social and mental problems.