Super size brings sadness to many children. Many children who are
obese are unhappy in life. As a group, dangerously overweight youth rate
their quality of life as low as children undergoing chemotherapy for
cancer treatment.
By
Colin Allen, published on April 01, 2003
There's nothing jolly about it: Many children who are obese are
unhappy in life. As a group, dangerously overweight youth rate their
quality of life as low as children undergoing chemotherapy for cancer
treatment. A new study suggests they are more than five times more likely
than children of a healthy weight to feel dissatisfied with their
emotions, physical well being, school work and how well they get along
with others.
"If you look at the research, it's not very optimistic," says
Edward Christophersen, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist at Children's Mercy
Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. Previous studies have found that early
obesity puts children at greater risk of developing chronic diseases such
as cardiovascular disease and diabetes later in life. Unfortunately,
there are only a handful of methods proven to successfully help these
children lower their weight. And according to the Centers for Disease
Control, 15 percent of America's youth are currently obese, compared with
only 5 percent in 1970.
Head researcher Jeffery Schwimmer, M.D., of the University of
California at San Diego asked 106 children to take a test called the
Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, or PedsQL. In it, the kids rated the
quality of different aspects of their life to include their level of
physical capability -- such as being able to walk a block-- and their
emotions-- how often they felt fearful, sad or angry. They were also
asked about their social lives and how well they did in school. Finally,
parents were questioned about their children's overall
contentment.
Results showed that both obese children and their parents agreed
that the youngsters' quality of life was low, and that both boys and
girls were equally impacted by their extra weight. Judging by these
findings, the study authors worry that not treating obesity might lead
not only to physical health risks but mental ones as well.
The study is published in the April 9 issue of
Journal of the American Medical
Association(JAMA).
For more on obesity and children,
Click here.
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university of california at san diego
