Why do some overweight children experience psychological problems? The role of weight and shape concern.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the associations between weight status, weight and shape concern, self-esteem, body dissatisfaction and depression in children.


METHODS
Interviews were conducted with 7- to 13-year-old overweight (n = 89) and healthy weight (n = 118) children, using the Child Eating Disorder Examination, Self-Perception Profile for Children, Children's Body Image Scale and Child Depression Inventory.


RESULTS
Overweight children were more concerned about weight and shape than healthy weight children. After controlling for BMI z-score, children with high weight and shape concern reported lower self-esteem, higher body dissatisfaction and higher depression than children with low weight and shape concern. Concern about weight and shape mediated the relationships between BMI z-score and low self-esteem, body dissatisfaction and depression.


CONCLUSIONS
Results support the hypothesis that differences in weight and shape concern, within samples of overweight and healthy weight children, can account for differences in degree of psychological distress. Findings have implications for the prevention and treatment of psychological problems in overweight children.
Allen
Karina L
KL
School of Psychology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia. allenk01@student.uwa.edu.au
Byrne
Susan M
SM
Blair
Eve M
EM
Davis
Elizabeth A
EA
D000293:Adolescent; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D049628:Body Size; D001835:Body Weight; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D002666:Psychology, Child; D012649:Self Concept