J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2005 Mar;44(2):247-252.

The Psychopathology of Overweight and Obesity in Community Children

• Hwang JW
• Yoo HI
• Kim BN
• Shin MS
• Cho SC

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study was designed to evaluate the relationship between the degree of obesity and psychopathology in children.
METHODS
504 children from the Kimpo City and their parents participated in this study. According to BMI percentile for their gender and age, we divided them into three groups; the normoweight group, the overweight group, and the obese group. The Child Depression Inventory (CDI), the Stait-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAI-C), and the subscale 3 of the Piers-Harris Self-Concept Scale were used for children. The Korean-Child Behavioral Checklist (K-CBCL) was completed by their parents.
RESULTS
In subscale 3 of the Piers-Harris Self-Concept Scale, 'the physical appearance and attitude', the score of the overweight group was significantly lower than that of the normoweight group. In CDI and STAI-C, there were no differences among three groups. We found significant differences among three groups in the mean scores of social problems, delinquent behavior, aggressive behavior, externalizing symptoms, and total problem in the CBCL scale.
CONCLUSION
The findings in this study showed evidences for a psychosocial at-risk population in a community samples of children with overweight and obesity. The nation-wide study including adolescents is needed.

Keyword

Child obesity; Child overweight; Body image; Psychopathology

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Anxiety
Body Image
Checklist
Child*
Depression
Gyeonggi-do
Humans
Obesity*
Overweight*
Parents
Pediatric Obesity
Psychopathology*
Social Problems