Obesity and depression 'hand-in-hand' in children
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Obese seven-year-olds are at greater risk of suffering emotional problems, such as anxiety and low mood, when they reach 11, a large UK study suggests. The Liverpool researchers found obesity and mental health were closely linked, and gradually increased throughout childhood.Although the study didn't look at causes, it said poverty was likely to increase the risk of both problems.The researchers analysed information on more than 17,000 children born in the UK between 2000 and 2002, using statistical modelling to measure the link between obesity and emotional problems.
They had information on children's height and weight as well as reports on their emotional problems, provided by their parents, at ages three, five, seven, 11 and 14 years old.But the link wasn't apparent in younger children.Dr Charlotte Hardman, senior psychology lecturer at the University of Liverpool, said the findings showed obesity and emotional problems were likely to develop hand-in-hand in childhood.
"As both rates of obesity and emotional problems in childhood are increasing, understanding their co-occurrence is an important public health concern, as both are linked with poor health in adulthood," she said.
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