Obesity and behaviour problems in kids

Recent research has shown that children who are obese for a long period are more likely to develop certain mental health problems than their peers.Researchers at the Duke University Medical Centre in Durham, North Carolina, over a period of eight years studied 991 youths, aged 9 to 16, who were involved in a long-term mental health study. Although weight fluctuated during the pre-teen and teenage years, the prevalence of obesity generally increased with age. Overall it was reported that 73% of the youth were never or rarely obese, chronic obesity was reported in 15%, childhood obesity in 5%, and adolescent obesity in 7%. They found that girls and boys who were obese at each annual follow-up were more likely than their non-obese peers to have symptoms of oppositional defiant disorder, i.e. they tended to defy rules. All of the study participants were raised in families with similar parenting styles and family structure. There were no differences in their family's history of mental illness and they had similar exposure to drug abuse, crime and traumatic events. Chronically obese children were more than twice as likely to have symptoms of oppositional disorder than non-obese boys and girls. Chronically obese boys, but not girls, were also much more likely to have symptoms of a depressive disorder.

Studies have shown obesity to be associated with many health problems, including lung, gastrointestinal and circulatory problems during childhood and increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and colon cancer in adulthood. Overweight and obese adults are also known to be more likely to develop psychological disorders than normal-weight adults, but more research is needed to determine if the same is true for children. The key implication of the findings is that obesity, which is linked to increased risk for so many health problems, is also linked to an increased risk of psychiatric disorder in children and adolescents. Parents can help reduce their child's risk by first reducing their child's risk of becoming obese. They can encourage, model and support nutritious eating habits and higher levels of physical activity. For parents whose children are already obese, they should emphasise the health aspects of losing weight and to avoid emphasising physical appearance. If any emotional or behavioural problems are suspected, parents should consult a health care professional.

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