Dr Pradeep Chowbey, Vice-Chairman of Max Healthcare, writes on how obesity can lead to depression and low self-esteem among children
Childhood obesity has turned into a disturbing national epidemic and is a growing concern. Obesity has been termed as an excessive amount of body fat that is a huge problem among teens. In the last few years childhood obesity rates have soared. About 15 per cent children (6-11 years of age) and 16 per cent of adolescents (12-19 years of age) meet obesity standards.
Obesity is harmful for the physical health (high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, high cholesterol levels are related to obesity). Childhood obesity also leads to many social, emotional, and psychological difficulties. As per the latest research obesity leads to low self-esteem and negative self-perceptions among children. low self esteem can lead to depression at young age.
Adolescent girls who are obese are at higher risk of depression because of the emotional challenges they face. Also the focus on body image has increased.
Adolescents who are obese can have mental health issues. It was found out that children who are obese by the age of four are more likely to have lower IQ scores.Overweight children are often socially isolated due to negative perceptions and rejections by peers.
The consequence of being obese as perceived by children themselves is social discrimination and low self-esteem. Obese children rated their standard of living with scores as little as those of young cancer patients on chemotherapy. Some common problems children face are:
Depression and anxiety
Depression may be both a cause and a consequence of obesity. A higher lifetime prevalence of anxiety disorders has increased its symptoms. Thus, the relationship between obesity and anxiety may not be unidirectional and is certainly not conclusive.
Unhealthy weight control practices
Obesity can lead to children opting for dieting and extreme measures to reduce weight. In a recent research, unhealthy weight control behaviour was reported in 57 per cent girls and 33 per cent boys and extreme unhealthy behaviour was reported in 12 per cent girls and five per cent boys among 4,476 adolescents.
Constant restriction of food intake eventually breaks down and results in dis-inhibited eating, like binge eating and emotional eating. This pattern can lead to decreased sensitivity of the body’s natural hunger and satiety cues and an over-reliance of contextual cues for eating.
Traits associated with eating disorders appear to be common in adolescent obese population, particularly for girls.
Obesity is considered to be one of the most stigmatising and least socially acceptable conditions in childhood. Obese children have increased risk of experiencing significant victimisation, but peer victimisation has been linked to negative psycho-social and health outcomes as well.
Prevention
> The only method to lose weight is to reduce the calorie overtake or increase the child’s physical activity level.
> Emphasise on healthy eating. Keep fatty and sugary snacks away from children and encourage them to eat seasonal fruits, vegetables.
> Go for brisk evening walk with the child.
>Obese children should be loved and appreciated. An overweight child probably knows much better than anyone else that she or he has a weight problem.