Clustering of psychosocial symptoms in overweight children.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of the present study were to (i) examine the relationship between children's degree of adiposity and psychosocial functioning; and (ii) compare patterns of clustering of psychosocial measures between healthy weight and overweight/obese children.


METHODS
Cross-sectional data from a population-based cohort of 158 healthy weight, 77 overweight, and 27 obese children aged 8-13 years were analysed. Height, weight depression, quality of life, self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, eating disorder symptoms, peer relationships and behavioural and emotional problems were measured.


RESULTS
Multi-level analysis showed significant linear associations between child body mass index z-scores and the psychosocial variables, with increasing adiposity associated with increasing levels of psychosocial distress. Principal components analyses indicated subtle differences between the healthy weight and overweight/obese groups with regards to the clustering of psychosocial measures. In particular, in overweight/obese, but not in healthy weight children, global self-worth clustered with body image and eating disorder symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
The psychosocial burden of excess weight is significant and broad reaching, with overweight/obese children showing multiple significant psychosocial problems.
Gibson
Lisa Y
LY
Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Centre for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. lisag@ichr.uwa.edu.au
Byrne
Susan M
SM
Blair
Eve
E
Davis
Elizabeth A
EA
Jacoby
Peter
P
Zubrick
Stephen R
SR
D000293:Adolescent; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D000367:Age Factors; D000886:Anthropometry; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D050177:Overweight / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D010379:Peer Group; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010555:Personality Inventory; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D002666:Psychology, Child; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept