2. Overview
What is Obesity?
Causes of Obesity
Socio-emotional Consequences
So What Is The Problem?
Statistics
Study
Mindfulness
Effectiveness
Citations
3. What is Obesity?
Obesity: a medical condition that
occurs when a person carries excess
weight or body fat that might affect
their health
Body Mass Index: a tool used to
assess if a person is at an appropriate
weight for their age, sex, and height
Brazier, Y. (2018, November 2). Obesity: What is it and what causes it? Retrieved from
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323551
Team, T. M. N. T. E. (2018, November 9). Obesity: BMI calculators and charts. Retrieved
from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323586#bmi-categories
4. Causes of Obesity
Increase in caloric and fat intake
Excessive sugar intake
Decline in physical activity
Genetic background
Psychological factors: depression
Eating disorder
Sahoo, K., Sahoo, B., Choudhury, A. K., Sofi, N. Y., Kumar, R., & Bhadoria, A. S. (2015). Childhood obesity: causes and consequences.
Journal of family medicine and primary care, 4(2), 187. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4408699/
5. Socio-emotional Consequences
One of the most stigmatized and
least socially acceptable conditions in
childhood
Often teased or bullied
Negative stereotypes
Sahoo, K., Sahoo, B., Choudhury, A. K., Sofi, N. Y., Kumar, R., & Bhadoria, A. S. (2015). Childhood obesity: causes and consequences. Journal of family medicine and
primary care, 4(2), 187. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4408699/
6. So What Is The Problem?
Mental Health
Lowered self-esteem
Low self-confidence
Negative body image
Eating disorder
Question: Does changing a child’s
way of viewing their body decrease
their anxiety and increase self-esteem
levels?
Sahoo, K., Sahoo, B., Choudhury, A. K., Sofi, N. Y., Kumar, R., & Bhadoria, A. S. (2015). Childhood obesity: causes and consequences.
Journal of family medicine and primary care, 4(2), 187. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4408699/
Himelstein, R., & Martinez, K. (2020, February 25). Telling a teen to lose weight could spark an eating disorder. There are better
ways to boost health. Retrieved from https://www.inquirer.com/health/expert-opinions/childhood-obesity-overweight-adolescent-
eating-disorders-size-acceptance-20200224.html
7. Statistics
Ages 2 to 19
1 in 6 are obese; 1 in 17 are extremely obese
Tried dieting
Half of all teenage girls
1 in 4 teenage boys
87% of obese children are found to also have stress, depression, and anxiety
3% of adolescents ages 13 to 18 are diagnosed with an eating disorder
Himelstein, R., & Martinez, K. (2020, February 25). Telling a teen to lose weight could spark an eating disorder. There are better ways to boost health. Retrieved
from https://www.inquirer.com/health/expert-opinions/childhood-obesity-overweight-adolescent-eating-disorders-size-acceptance-20200224.html
8. Study: The influence of childhood obesity on the
development of self-esteem
Background: This study examines longitudinal relationships between body weight
and self esteem in a nationally representative probability sample of Canadian
children.
Methods: Study consists of 2,879 children aged 10 or 11 years. Participants were
re-interviewed every two years, for three times (until they were aged 14 or 15).
Results: Children who were obese at baseline had almost twice the odds of
reporting low self-esteem four years later, compared with children of normal body
weight.
Wang, F., Wild, T. C., Kipp, W., Kuhle, S., & Veugelers, P. J. (2009). The influence of childhood obesity on the development of self-esteem. Health Rep, 20(2), 21-27.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anne_Rhodes2/publication/26787844_Identifying_deliberate_self-
harm_in_emergency_department_data/links/54ddf4180cf22a26721d6ad4.pdf#page=23
9. Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Mindfulness: psychological
techniques focused on attention,
body awareness, breathing, and
meditation
Examples: awareness of breath,
noticing thoughts as they pass
through the mind
Safai, Y. (2020, February 11). Mindfulness helps obese children lose weight and decrease anxiety: Study. Retrieved from
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/mindfulness-helps-obese-children-lose-weight-decrease-anxiety/story?id=68900978
10. Effectiveness
Results: restricted diets may increase
anxiety in obese children; practicing
mindfulness, may counteract this and
promote more efficient weight loss
Reduces appetite and stress
hormones
Soc_Endo. (n.d.). Mindfulness helps obese children lose weight. Retrieved from https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-02/sfe-mho020520.php
Safai, Y. (2020, February 11). Mindfulness helps obese children lose weight and decrease anxiety: Study. Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/Health/mindfulness-
helps-obese-children-lose-weight-decrease-anxiety/story?id=68900978
11. Citations
Brazier, Y. (2018, November 2). Obesity: What is it and what causes it? Retrieved from
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323551
Himelstein, R., & Martinez, K. (2020, February 25). Telling a teen to lose weight could spark an
eating disorder. There are better ways to boost health. Retrieved from
https://www.inquirer.com/health/expert-opinions/childhood-obesity-overweight-adolescent-
eating-disorders-size-acceptance-20200224.html
Safai, Y. (2020, February 11). Mindfulness helps obese children lose weight and decrease anxiety:
Study. Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/Health/mindfulness-helps-obese-children-lose-
weight-decrease-anxiety/story?id=68900978
Sahoo, K., Sahoo, B., Choudhury, A. K., Sofi, N. Y., Kumar, R., & Bhadoria, A. S. (2015). Childhood
obesity: causes and consequences. Journal of family medicine and primary care, 4(2), 187.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4408699/
Soc_Endo. (n.d.). Mindfulness helps obese children lose weight. Retrieved from
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-02/sfe-mho020520.php
Wang, F., Wild, T. C., Kipp, W., Kuhle, S., & Veugelers, P. J. (2009). The influence of childhood obesity
on the development of self-esteem. Health Rep, 20(2), 21-27.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anne_Rhodes2/publication/26787844_Identifying_deliberate_
self-harm_in_emergency_department_data/links/54ddf4180cf22a26721d6ad4.pdf#page=23
Hinweis der Redaktion
Hi, I am Jessie. There has been a dramatic increase in childhood obesity and I wanted to know more about its effects on the child’s mental health. Childhood obesity been profoundly affecting children physically and psychologically.
I would like to explain what obesity is, what causes obesity, the consequences of obesity, some stats, how mindfulness can help improve how you think about body image, and the effectiveness of mindfulness.
“Obesity is a medical condition that occurs when a person has a large amount of body fat that can increase their risk of developing health conditions.” A person with a high BMI is considered to be obese. The BMI is what doctors use to determine the appropriate weight for their age, sex, and height. The picture on the left shows a BMI chart for each height and weight.
Most causes of obesity are usually due to their lifestyle. This can include how they eat and how they exercise. There has been an increase in calorie intake and sugar intake. But in other cases, it can be because of their genetics or emotional problems.
Obesity is known as “one of the most stigmatized and least socially acceptable conditions in childhood.” Obese children are more likely to be bullied for their weight. There are many negative stereotypes surrounding obesity. Obese children are often excluded from activities that require physical activity. To their peers, obese children are viewed as slower and often out of breath.
So what is the actual problem then? While there are many different types of diseases that are linked to obesity such as Type 2 Diabetes and Coronary Heart Disease, the main impact of childhood obesity is its effects on mental health. Children who are obese tend to have low self-esteem, low self-confidence, a negative body image, and possible chance of an eating disorder. Thus, leads to what I am interested in: Does changing the way they view their body decrease their anxiety and increase their self esteem levels?
According to national statistics, from the age of 2 to 19, “one in six are obese and one in seventeen are extremely obese. Half of all teenage girls and one in four teenage boys have tried dieting. 87% of obese children are found to either have stress, depression, or anxiety. 3% of adolescents ages 13 to 18 are diagnosed with an eating disorder.” Many teens have tried losing weight in many unhealthy ways such as starving themselves or over-exercising.
In a longitudinal study, self-esteem of obese children in Canada were examined. “Children completed a four-item scale that assessed their overall self-esteem: (1) “In general, I like the way I am:; (2) “Overall I have a lot to be proud of”; (3) A lot of things about me are good”; and (4) “When I do something, I do it well.” Response options for each item were: false, mostly, false, sometimes false, and true (scored 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively). Scores below the 15th percentile were considered to indicate low self esteem. Higher scores were considered to indicate normal self-esteem. Then followed by a verbal weight assessment by the person most knowledgeable about the child’s height and weight to calculate the BMI. Adjustments were made to account for other variables that can influence the results: sex of the child, rural or urban residence, household income, parental education, and the child’s physical activity and screen time.” There was a two and four year follow up with the same group of children. Results were compared to the first time they answered the questions.
A new study shows a new approach to weight loss. Mindfulness helps obese children lose weight and decrease anxiety. Researchers tested the effects of mindfulness on stress levels for eight weeks on children ages 10 to 14 years using self-reported surveys and charted changes in appetite and the amount of weight lost in children with obesity and anxiety.
The results show evidence that mindfulness may have potential “for managing anxiety and weight in obese children on calorie-restricted diets, by reducing appetite, stress hormones, body mass index, and cortical levels.” It is also said to prevent eating disorders.