Mental health and experience of being bullied in 12‐year‐old children with overweight and obesity. (7th January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hammar, Ewa; Bladh, Marie; Agnafors, Sara
• Is Part Of: Acta pædiatrica. Volume 109:Number 7(2020)
• Page Start: 1450
• Page End: 1457
• Publication Date: 2020-01-07
• Subjects: children -- longitudinal -- mental health -- obesity -- SESBiC study; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Pediatrics; 618.92
• DOI: 10.1111/apa.15131
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0803-5253

Abstract

Abstract: Aim: The aim was to study the association between weight, mental health and experience of being bullied in 12‐year‐old children. Additional aim was to investigate the impact of childhood psychosocial risk factors for overweight and obesity at age 12. Methods: Study participants were members of a Swedish prospective cohort study. A total of 573 children were followed from pregnancy to age 12. IOTF‐BMI at 12 years of age was used to categorise normal weight, overweight and obesity. Mothers, children and teachers filled out questionnaires on child mental health and experience of being bullied at age 12. Results: In bivariate analysis, girls with obesity reported significantly more behavioural problems than normal weight and overweight peers; however, no significant differences in mental health was noted between different weight categories when controlling for gender, experience of life events and socio‐economic factors. Overweight and obesity were associated with experience of being bullied after controlling for gender, experience of life events and socio‐economic factors (OR = 2.05, 95% CI = 1.08‐3.91). Conclusion: Children with overweight and obesity are at increased risk of being bullied compared with normal weight peers. No significant differences in mental health were noted between children with obesity, overweight and normal weight in multivariate analysis. Abstract :