Child mental health problems and obesity in early adulthood.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether mental health problems in childhood increase the likelihood of overweight or obesity during early adulthood among male subjects.


METHODS
In a national prospective population-based study conducted in Finland, child mental health, including depression, emotional problems, conduct problems, and hyperactivity (determined on the basis of child, parent, and teacher information), was assessed at age 8 years. Body mass index (BMI) was obtained from military examination records (n = 2209) conducted in early adulthood (age range, 18-23 years).


RESULTS
Both moderate (50th-90th percentile) and high (>90th percentile) levels of conduct problems at age 8 years were prospectively associated with a young adult being obese (BMI > or = 30; odds ratio [OR], 2.0; 95% CI, 1.2-3.2; and OR, 2.9; 95% Confidence interval [CI], 1.5-5.9; respectively). Conduct problems were also prospectively associated with a young adult being overweight (25 < or = BMI < 30; OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-1.9 for moderate levels of conduct problems, and OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.2-2.8 for high levels), after controlling for hyperactive problems and sociodemographic factors.


CONCLUSIONS
Conduct problems in childhood are prospectively associated with overweight and obese in young adulthood. Future studies should address the potential for interventions to reduce obesity risk in young adulthood for boys who manifest conduct problems early in life.
Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Columbia University-NYSPI, New York, NY 10032, USA. cd2003@columbia.edu
Cristiane S
CS
Duarte
André
A
Sourander
Georgios
G
Nikolakaros
Harri
H
Pihlajamaki
Hans
H
Helenius
Jorma
J
Piha
Kirsti
K
Kumpulainen
Irma
I
Moilanen
Tuula
T
Tamminen
Fredrik
F
Almqvist
Aviva
A
Must
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D018570:Risk Assessment