Correlation of Obesity and Overweight with Emotional-Behavioral Problems in Primary School Age Girls in Tabriz, Iran

authors:

avatar Ali Tajik 1 , avatar Mehrangiz Ebrahimi-Mameghani 2 , avatar Bayanah Seyedamini 3 , avatar Ayyoub Malek 4 , *

Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health & Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Department of Nursing, Islamic Azad University, Mahabad branch, Mahabad, Iran
Department of Psychiatry, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Iranian Journal of Pediatrics: Vol.22, issue 1; 15-22
published online: March 31, 2012
article type: Research Article
received: November 01, 2010
accepted: November 01, 2011

how to cite: Tajik A, Ebrahimi-Mameghani M, Seyedamini B, Malek A. Correlation of Obesity and Overweight with Emotional-Behavioral Problems in Primary School Age Girls in Tabriz, Iran. Iran J Pediatr. 2012;22(1): 15-22. 

Abstract

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 multi-staged 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 Internalizing problems (including Anxious/Depressed, Withdrawn, and Somatic Complaints) were seen in 11%, 15%, and 2% and externalizing problems (including Aggressive and Delinquent Behaviors) were observed in 8%, 17%, and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.
 

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