title: Overweight, obesity and underweight is associated with adverse psychosocial and physical health outcomes among 7-year-old children: the 'Be active, eat right' study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Limited studies have reported on associations between overweight, and physical and psychosocial health outcomes among younger children. This study evaluates associations between overweight, obesity and underweight in 5-year-old children, and parent-reported health outcomes at age 7 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were used from the 'Be active, eat right' study. Height and weight were measured at 5 and 7 years. Parents reported on child physical and psychosocial health outcomes (e.g. respiratory symptoms, general health, happiness, insecurity and adverse treatment). Regression models, adjusted for potential confounders, were fitted to predict health outcomes at age 7 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The baseline study sample consisted of 2,372 children mean age 5.8 (SD 0.4) years; 6.2% overweight, 1.6% obese and 15.0% underweight. Based on parent-report, overweight, obese and underweight children had an odds ratio (OR) of 5.70 (95% CI: 4.10 to 7.92), 35.34 (95% CI: 19.16; 65.17) and 1.39 (95% CI: 1.05 to 1.84), respectively, for being treated adversely compared to normal weight children. Compared to children with a low stable body mass index (BMI), parents of children with a high stable BMI reported their child to have an OR of 3.87 (95% CI: 1.75 to 8.54) for visiting the general practitioner once or more, an OR of 15.94 (95% CI: 10.75 to 23.64) for being treated adversely, and an OR of 16.35 (95% CI: 11.08 to 24.36) for feeling insecure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that overweight, obesity and underweight at 5 years of age is associated with more parent-reported adverse treatment of the child. Qualitative research examining underlying mechanisms is recommended. Healthcare providers should be aware of the possible adverse effects of childhood overweight and also relative underweight, and provide parents and children with appropriate counseling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Grieken
authors.forename: Carry M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Renders
authors.forename: Anne I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Wijtzes
authors.forename: Remy A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hirasing
authors.forename: Hein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Raat
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006262:Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013851:Thinness / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*