Is there a relationship between overweight and obesity and mental health problems in 4- to 5-year-old Australian children?
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between overweight and obesity, and mental health problems in Australian 4- to 5-year-old children.


METHODS
The study used data from wave 1 (2004) of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC). The participants were 4983 4- to 5-year-old children (2537 boys and 2446 girls) with a mean age of 56.9 months (standard deviation 2.6 months; range 51-67 months). Children were classified as nonoverweight, overweight, and obese on the basis of International Obesity Task Force definitions. Mental health problems were assessed by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) completed by parents and teachers.


RESULTS
Although obese 4- to 5-year-old boys had more mental health problems than nonoverweight boys, differences between the groups were small and substantially reduced when analyses controlled for children's sociodemographic characteristics. Parents reported that overweight/obese girls had more peer problems, whereas teachers reported they had more conduct problems. Children in all weight groups had mean scores within the normal range of scores on all the SDQ subscales.


CONCLUSIONS
Differences in rates of mental health problems experienced by young children of different weight status appear relatively small. Higher rates of mental health problems experienced by more obese boys may reflect differences in their sociodemographic characteristics rather than their weight status per se. Policies that reduce the number of young children living in poverty or experiencing other adverse social circumstances have the potential to reduce rates of mental health problems experienced by older children with overweight/obesity.
Sawyer
Michael G
MG
Department of Paediatrics, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia. micheal.sawyer@adelaide.edu.au
Miller-Lewis
Lauren
L
Guy
Sophie
S
Wake
Melissa
M
Canterford
Louise
L
Carlin
John B
JB
D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D050177:Overweight; D010290:Parents; D010379:Peer Group; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires