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| Quick reference medical handouts used
by Pediatric offices |
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Psychological effects of childhood obesity
All children have
to construct an identity and a concept of themselves. Part of this construction
involves monitoring how significant others, friends and peers respond to them,
along with the value judgments that accompany those perceptions. This takes
place in environments that are overlaid with cultural and societal attitudes,
values and conformities. Overweight and obese children develop a sense of self,
self-esteem and cope with the consequences of their body status against this
back-drop.
Childhood
Obesity Negative Image
Most children are aware of obesity as socially undesirable from a very early
age. This awareness appears to be generalized from studies using stereotypes,
with similar negative responses regardless of gender, age, or own body status.
Consequently the overweight child is perceived as 'fair game'.
Childhood
Obesity & Low Self-Esteem
Children can become aware of their body status at relatively low levels of
fatness through mechanisms such as reference to photographs and name-calling. In
middle years, children perceive fatness impacting on appearance and athletic
ability, but not social competence or global self worth. Also the importance
that being overweight assumes differs between children. A review of self-esteem
and obesity found similar numbers of studies where no relationship was apparent,
as those where obese children had lower self-esteem (studies with up to 12
year-olds), and there was some evidence for high self-esteem protecting against
obesity. An inverse relationship between obesity and self-esteem appeared more
consistent in adolescence. They concluded that low self-esteem may be
characteristic of overweight children and adolescents, affecting body esteem to
a greater extent. All of which in turn affects self-efficacy, self-enhancement
and self-protection.
Consequences
of Childhood Obesity
The consequences of obesity are many and varied for children (and their
families). These can range from a dislike of PE to the family moving home
because of bullying, or from indifference to feeling depressed and suicidal.
Overweight children may be labeled as immature or disruptive when they are
behaving normally for their age, but their appearance is up to three years
older. Parents, particularly mothers, may be perceived as fussy, over-protective
or to blame, which impacts on the whole family.
Negative
Effects of Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity is complex and there is evidence for general negative effects
of weight on the psyche. However, children differ in their cognitive and
emotional development, their relative importance of being overweight, their
family structure and background, as well as their genetic make-up. They are also
subject to differences in parenting style and family dysfunction. All of these
factors result in individualized responses and coping strategies to being
overweight or obese.
Source: Dr Laurel
Edmunds, Institute of Health Sciences, Oxford. (2002). Posted 02/15/04
kidsgrowth.com
As a reminder, this information should not be relied on as
medical advice and is not intended to replace the advice of your child’s pediatrician.
Please read our full disclaimer.
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