Psychological Effects of Childhood Obesity

Psychological Effects of Childhood Obesity Depression Childhood Depression Print Psychological Effects of Childhood Obesity By Rebecca Fraser-Thill Rebecca Fraser-Thill holds a Master#39;s Degree in developmental psychology and writes about child development and tween parenting.   Learn about our editorial policy Rebecca Fraser-Thill Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Joel Forman, MD on September 07, 2014 Joel Forman, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician and associate professor of pediatrics, environmental medicine, and public health at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Learn about our Medical Review Board Joel Forman, MD Updated on February 24, 2020 altrendo images / Getty Images More in Depression Childhood Depression Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Types Suicide Childhood obesity can  result in a number of psychological issues. Weight issues can be particularly difficult during the tween years  due to the unique social atmosphere this age group faces. Heres what parents should know about the psychological effects of childhood obesity, so that they may help their child deal with challenges and other related problems. Self-Esteem Issues Childhood obesity is more than a physical problem. Tweens tend to be hyper-aware of how they compare to others, which makes them self-conscious and feeling alone. Many of these social comparisons hinge on superficial features, such as clothing choice, facial attractiveness and, yes, weight. As a result, an obese tween may feel out of place among their slimmer peers. Perhaps not surprisingly, researchers have found lower levels of self-esteem in obese children and tweens compared to their average-weight peers.  One team of researchers found that obese 9 to 12-year-olds had self-esteem issues that went far beyond physical self-worth. In other words, obese tweens tended to be unhappy with themselves in various waysâ€"including sociallyâ€"not just unhappy with their appearance. Signs of Healthy and Low Self-Esteem Higher Levels of Depression The middle school years are difficult years even under the best of circumstances, but more so for children with weight issues. In addition to making many social comparisons with their peers, tweens tend to fixate on how other people react to them. Unfortunately, obese tweens have been found to elicit more negative peer reactions compared to average-weight tweens. Peers play an increasingly important role in a tween’s life, so positive social interactions are key to a tweens’ psychological well-being. As a result, higher levels of depression have been found in obese children and tweens. Are Low Self-Esteem and Depression the Same Thing? Increased Behavioral Problems Almost all tweens will act out at some point or another, but parents of obese tweens have reported more behavior problems in their obese tweens compared to parents of average-weight tweens. Internalizing and Externalizing In particular, parents noted that their obese children had more internalizing problems (problems in which anger is directed inward), which may manifest as depression, anxiety, or eating disorders. They also had “externalizing problems (problems in which anger is directed outward), such as aggression, defiance, and backtalk. School Performance and Friendships The parents also rated their obese tweens as being less competent in school and in social settings, putting their academic success and friendships at risk. Being held back a grade, lower test scores, and not going onto college have been linked to students with obesity, especially in female students.   Higher Risk of Eating Disorders Obesity is a risk factor for eating disorders, including binge-eating disorder, anorexia nervosa,  and  bulimia nervosa.  This risk is partly attributed to efforts to lose weight, which can easily lead to unhealthy behaviors like restricting eating or exercising vigorously. Whats more, if an obese child is teased by peers about their weight, it can make them more vulnerable to binge eating. Low self-esteem and low self-efficacy, which are common in obese children, are also risk factors for eating disorders. The Causes of Eating Disorders How Parents Play a Role Parent perception may play a role in these findings, however, since those who sought treatment reported more behavior problems than those who did not seek treatment. In other words, it might be that the parents who saw obesity as a problem needing treatment were more likely to associate other behaviors as problematic as well; whereas those who didn’t seek treatment may not have seen obesity or other behaviors as problems at all. All in all, obesity may result in a number of psychological issues during the tween years. Therefore, taking steps to remedy the issue through changes in nutrition and physical activity can have important physical and psychological benefits. If you think your child is suffering because of a weight-related issue, contacting your childs pediatrician is a natural first step to getting your child the help they need. Issues Facing Tweens and How Parents Can Help