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The influence of childhood obesity on the development of self-esteem
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by F. Wang, T.C. Wild, W. Kipp, S. Kuhle and P.J. Veugelers
Abstract
Keywords
Findings
Authors
Acknowledgments
What is already known on this subject?
What does this study add?
Abstract
Background
The consequences of overweight in childhood for physical health have received considerable attention, but relatively little research has examined the mental health consequences. This article examines longitudinal relationships between body weight and self-esteem in a nationally representative probability sample of Canadian children.
Data and methods
The data are from cycles 1, 2 and 3 of the Canadian National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth. Logistic regression analysis using weighted data examined whether body weight at baseline predicted self-esteem two and four years later.
Results
When baseline self-esteem and other potential confounders were taken into account, children who were obese at baseline had almost twice the odds of reporting low self-esteem four years later, compared with children of normal body weight. Ancillary analyses indicated that baseline self-esteem was not associated with body weight status two or four years later.
Interpretation
The current childhood obesity epidemic may trigger an increase in the population prevalence of low self-esteem in the future. According to other research, low self-esteem predicts poor mental health. The curent childhood obesity epidemic may increase the prevalence of not only chronic diseases, but also poor mental health.
Keywords
body mass index, child development, exercise, health surveys, learning, mental health, prospective studies
Findings
Childhood overweight has become pandemic, and prevalence rates continue to rise. While the consequences of overweight in childhood for physical health are well described, relatively little research has examined the mental health consequences. [Full text]
Authors
F. Wang, T.C. Wild, W. Kipp, S. Kuhle and P.J. Veugelers (1-780-492-9095, paul.veugelers@ualberta.ca) are with School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 650 University Terrace, 8303 112 Street, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2T4
Acknowledgments
This research was funded through a Canada Research Chair in Population Health and Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research Health Scholar Award to Dr. Paul J. Veugelers and through an Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research traineeship award to Dr. Fangfang Wang.
What is already known on this subject?
- The prevalence of childhood obesity is increasing.
- Considerable research has examined the physical health consequences of childhood obesity.
- Low self-esteem in childhood predicts poor mental health in adulthood.
- Most studies of the mental health consequences of childhood obesity, and the few longitudinal studies that have been conducted, could not establish whether excess weight affects self-esteem or whether self-esteem influences excess weight.
What does this study add?
- Results from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth show that excess body weight predicted the development of low self-esteem among children over a four-year period.
- Low self-esteem did not predict excess weight.
- Regular physical activity was positively associated with self-esteem.
