Childhood Obesity - Do you have an overweight child? We offer tips to help your child lose weight and get fit!

The My Overweight Child blog will help you keep informed about the latest research, findings, and resources available to parents of overweight or obese kids. There are many knowledgeable people working on the increasingly dire problem of childhood obesity - and we want to give parents a place where they can check in regularly to see the latest studies and tips available to help you help your child lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

We invite you to add your comments - if you have feedback for the blog, would like some specific topics covered, or you just want to share your experience as a parent dealing with childhood obesity.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

The Emotional Impact of Obesity

As the United States and other nations continues the fight against childhood obesity, the health consequences associated with being overweight or obese are widely publicized. Getting less attention, however, are the damaging psychological effects obesity can have on kids.

Dr. Margaret Lewin, the medical director of Cinergy Health, addressed this topic in a Feb. 19 article on HealthNewsDigest.com:
LJ Griffiths' study of children at age 7 1/2 showed that obesity predicts a higher likelihood of bullying (boys -- presumably because of their physical dominance in their peer group) or being bullied (both sexes) than normal weight (or even moderately overweight) children.

Overweight girls are especially stigmatized when it comes to dating. In a study of adolescents, only 12 percent of the students had dated someone who was overweight, with only 8 percent of boys dating overweight peers.

Formal studies suggest a relationship between self-esteem and health. Whether obese or not, adolescents with poor self-esteem are more likely to engage in early sex, less likely to use birth control, have higher rates of teen pregnancies, are more likely to use tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs, and to attempt suicide.

Obesity can also lead teenagers into binge-eating, sometimes purging as well. In 2007, a study reported a 20 year research of obese adolescents in upstate New York. They found that obese girls were nearly four times more likely than normal weight girls to suffer major depression and anxiety disorders as adults.

Labels: self_esteem, mental_health

Posted By: Aspen/CRC

Comments:

crocus on 3/18/2010
I'm seeing it already. Mornings are difficult because my daughter has trouble finding clothes that fit. She ends up crying because she is late and doesn't like how she looks. She is only in 5th grade! I feel helpless. My older son who is underweight and in high school, commented yesterday on "how big her thighs look" in a certain outfit, now she won't wear those clothes. I am a good role model. I pray about this everyday. I want to coach her without upsetting her. It's such a fine line and so frustrating. Is anyone else in the same situation?