title: The relationship between body mass index and behavior in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine reciprocal relationships between body mass index (BMI) and internalizing and externalizing problems from infancy through middle childhood, with a focus on sex and history of overweight.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 1254 children in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development were used to conduct longitudinal analyses of the relationship between BMI and scores on the Child Behavior Checklist from age 2 years through the 6th grade.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BMI and behavior problems demonstrated stability across the 7 measurement occasions. No consistent relationship between BMI and behavior problems was evident before school entry, but higher BMI was associated with later internalizing problems beginning in the 1st grade for boys and girls. Higher BMI was not associated with increased conduct problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As children move into middle childhood, higher BMI is associated with increased likelihood of developing internalizing problems. Health care providers should monitor BMI as children enter school and provide guidance to parents regarding emerging symptoms of anxiety and depression.
authors.affiliation: Center for Applied Studies in Education, University of Arkansas, Little Rock, AR 72204, USA. rhbradley@ualr.edu
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: Renate
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Houts
authors.forename: Philip R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Nader
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Belsky
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Crosnoe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001519:Behavior; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D012574:Schools