title: Child Obesity and Mental Health: A Complex Interaction.
abstract: Prevalence rates of childhood obesity have risen steeply over the last 3 decades. Given the increased national focus, the frequency of this clinical problem, and the multiple mental health factors that coexist with it, make obesity a public health concern. The complex relationships between mental health and obesity serve to potentiate the severity and interdependency of each. The purpose of this review is to create a contextual connection for the 2 conditions as outlined by the research literature and consider treatment options that affect both health problems.
authors.affiliation: Family and Community Health Nursing Department, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing, 1100 East Leigh Street, PO Box 980567, Richmond, VA 23298, USA. Electronic address: LSmall2@VCU.edu.
authors.forename: Leigh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Small
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Children's Hospital of Richmond/Virginia Treatment Center for Children, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, 515 North 10th Street, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aplasca
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: Anxiety; Body image; Childhood obesity; Depression; Externalizing; Internalizing; Self-esteem; Weight bias