title: Psychosocial predictors of body mass index at late childhood: a longitudinal investigation.
abstract: Little is known about the psychosocial circumstances under which children develop excessive body mass. A community sample was followed up from age 2-10 years to determine which early problems were predictive of increased body mass index. Hypothesized mediators (i.e. eating habits, physical activity, and "screen time") were also examined. After controlling for parental psychopathology, family income, child's gender, and child's body mass index, externalizing behaviors, aggressive behaviors, and anger predicted a relatively high body mass index. Exploratory analyses did not support hypothesized mediators, although low power was an issue.
authors.affiliation: University of Denver, USA jholmden@du.edu.
authors.forename: Jill M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Holm-Denoma
authors.affiliation: Miami University, USA.
authors.forename: April
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Oregon Research Institute, USA.
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Lewinsohn
authors.affiliation: Florida International University, USA.
authors.forename: Jeremy W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Pettit
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
keywords: children; externalizing; obesity; overweight; predictors