Anxious Childhoods Can Lead to Obese Adulthoods

By Brooke Strickland
Writer for FEP International

A new study published by BMC Medicine showed that children with emotional difficulties can become obese later on in life. Participants began assessment for emotional problems, body mass index, and self perceptions in 1970 when the children were 10 years old. Twenty years later (when they were 30 years old) their body mass index was measured again and research found that the children that had lower self esteem and were more worried in the beginning of the study reported higher body mass indexes over the course of the next two decades. Also, these results appeared more in girls than they did boys [1].

Childhood can be a difficult time. Kids are learning new things every day, they are learning how to communicate better and more effectively, and their bodies are growing at a rapid pace. At every developmental phase of youth there can be some emotional roadblocks or difficulties that children need to learn to overcome. However, some of these emotional problems are serious. They can often cause distress for the family as a whole and can be extremely damaging. So, knowing when to seek help for your child or a child you know is important.

First step: try to talk to the child. A truthful and open talk about what they are feeling can often help. If needed, do not hesitate to talk to teachers, physicians, mentors, priests, pastors, or other adults who know the child well. If this doesn’t seem to help, and the problems, depression, or emotional distress continues, it is time to seek professional help. Some signs that you may need a counselor or other medical professional include:

* Your child’s emotional difficulties are overwhelming and are affecting their overall functioning in daily life

* A significant change has taken place and you are seeing marked changes in mood, behavior, or personality

* Talk or mention of suicide

As a parent, guardian, or caregiver of a child, it is very important to pay attention to any symptoms that a child may be in distress. Remember that it is okay and is common for them to be upset or withdrawn once in a while, especially if difficult life circumstances arise. However, if you are noticing a marked change in them, lasting for several months at a time, it is time to intervene.

References

[1] Anxious kids at risk for obesity in adulthood. USA Today. Accessed on the Web September 21, 2009. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-09-15-obesity-emotion_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip