Child and adolescent obesity is also associated with increased risk of emotional

problems. Teens with weight problems tend to have much lower self-esteem and
be less popular with their peers. Depression, anxiety, and obsessive compulsive
disorder can also occur.
http://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/Facts_for_Familie
s_Pages/Obesity_In_Children_And_Teens_79.aspx

Obesity and poor nutrition combined with mental health disorders and emotional
problems, violence and unintentional injury, substance use, and reproductive health
problems form part of a complex web of potential challenges to adolescents
healthy emotional and physical development.
http://www.nccp.org/publications/pub_977.html

Psychosocial Problems
There is mixed evidence related to the prevalence and severity of psychosocial
problems among severely obese children and adolescents, and it is unclear whether
severe obesity precedes these issues or whether psychosocial issues function as
pathogenic factors that contribute to severe obesity. Overall health-related quality
of life, which includes aspects of psychosocial functioning, has been reported to be
lower in severely obese children than in healthy-weight children. Furthermore,
specific measures of emotional, social, and school functioning were significantly
lower among severely obese children and adolescents.109 Another study of
severely obese adolescents presenting for bariatric surgery (bariatric surgery is
discussed below) reported a high prevalence of clinically significant depression of
30%.110 By contrast, a community-based study reportaed a prevalence of
depression among severely obese adolescents that was no higher than among
normal-weight peers.
http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/128/15/1689.full

Obese children and adolescents have a greater risk of social and psychological
problems, such as discrimination and poor self-esteem, which can continue into
adulthood

hildhood overweight and obesity on the rise

Childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century. The
problem is global and is steadily affecting many low- and middle-income countries, particularly
in urban settings. The prevalence has increased at an alarming rate. Globally, in 2013 the number
of overweight children under the age of five, is estimated to be over 42 million. Close to 31
million of these are living in developing countries.
Overweight and obese children are likely to stay obese into adulthood and more likely to develop
noncommunicable diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases at a younger age.
Overweight and obesity, as well as their related diseases, are largely preventable. Prevention of
childhood obesity therefore needs high priority.
The WHO Member States in the 66th World Health Assembly have agreed on a voluntary global
NCD target to halt the rise in diabetes and obesity.
The prevalence of overweight and obesity in adolescents is defined according to the WHO
growth reference for school-aged children and adolescents (overweight = one standard deviation
body mass index for age and sex, and obese = two standard deviations body mass index for age
and sex).
http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/childhood_consequences/en/

A review of the psychological and familial perspectives of

childhood obesity
Yael Latzer12* and Daniel Stein3