A Study to Assess the Emotional and Behavioral problems among Overweight Children in Selected Schools at Mysuru

Overweight has shown an increasing trend in most developing countries. Childhood overweight would impose numerous health-related problems. According to W H O in 2011 more than 40 million children under the age of five were overweight. The worldwide prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity increased from 4.2% in 1990 to 6.7% in 2010. Overweight has been hypothesized as a possible result of psychological symptoms, and psychological symptoms have been hypothesized to be a result of overweight.

This study was conducted to assess the emotional and behavioral problems among overweight children in selected schools at Mysuru.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 60 overweight school children (aged 6–12 years). Samples were selected by purposive sampling method. For all students body mass index was measured. The emotional-behavioral problems were evaluated by interview with checklist that consists of 44 items for childhood emotional and behavioral problems.

Total emotional problems were seen in 16.52%, behavioral problems were seen in 15.11% of the overweight school children. The distribution of emotional problem seen in overweight children is low selfesteem 21.48%, lack of confidence 18.73%, inferiority 17.63%, irritation 15.15%, anger 14.87%, and unacceptance 12.12%. The distribution of behavioral problem seen in overweight children is dominance over others 29.72%, quarrel with others 25.18%, withdrawal 23.42%, avoidance of food 11.58% and isolation 10.07%. Emotional-behavioral problems had significant positive correlation with in overweight school children.

Despite the individual differences between children, yet there are similarities in the most of the emotional-behavioral problems related to overweight. Overweight prevention may be a primary preventive step for these problems in children.