1 research outputs found
Correlation of Obesity and Overweight with Emotional-Behavioral Problems in Primary School Age Girls in Tabriz, Iran
Objective: Obesity and overweight have shown an increasing trend in
most developing countries. Childhood obesity would impose numerous
health-related problems. This study was conducted to determine the
correlation of obesity and overweight with emotional-behavioral
problems in primary school age girls. Methods: In a cross-sectional
study, 300 primary school girls (aged 7-11 years) were selected using a
multistaged sampling method, including randomized cluster and
stratified method. For all students body mass index was measured and
then based on BMI for age and sex, from each grade (1-5), 20 students
were selected for each group of normal weight, overweight and obese.
The emotional-behavioral problems were evaluated using child behavior
checklist that consists of 113 items for childhood behavioral problems.
Findings: Total behavioral problems were seen in 17%, 27%, and 2% in
obese, overweight, and normal weight children, respectively.
Internalizing problems (including Anxious/Depressed, Withdrawn, and
Somatic Complaints) were seen in 11%, 15%, and 2% and externalizing
problems (including Aggressive and Delinquent Behaviors) were observed
in 8%, 17%, and 2% in obese, overweight, and normal weight children,
respectively. The mean scores in all scales were higher in obese and
overweight children in comparison with normal weight children and the
emotional-behavioral problems had significant positive correlation with
obesity and overweight (P<0.01). Conclusion: Despite the cultural
differences between east and west, yet there are similarities in the
most of the emotional-behavioral problems related to overweight and
obesity. Also, it seems that the risk of behavioral-emotional problems
in overweight girls is more than in obese girls. Overweight and Obesity
prevention may be a primary preventive step for these problems in
children