Ultimately, overweight children may not feel so alone

Overweight kids as young as kindergarteners are more likely to be lonely, anxious and depressed than kids who have never been overweight, researchers have found.

Here's a synopsis from the University of Missouri. In it, the researcher says: "Overweight is widely considered a stigmatizing condition and overweight individuals are typically blamed for their situation. The experience of being stigmatized often leads to negative feelings, even in children."

The study was published in Applied Developmental Science.

But note that the research is being publicized even as another report -- on the nation's obesity rate -- receives even more attention: Obesity rates are on the rise across the U.S. The story says: "If that weren't bad enough, in 30 states, the percentage of overweight or obese children is at or above 30%."

We appear to be taking care of the loneliness problem.

-- Tami Dennis

Photo credit: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Privilege of Parenting]

Could it be that our culture has so much anxiety in it that it is provoking more and more kids to eat for reasons that go beyond nutrition, such as comfort, defense against boredom, etc.?

For some other ideas about a related topic: power struggles and picky eaters, see http://tiny.cc/9WcS8