Abstract
Background: Obese children are more exposed to bullying (B). This study aims to analyse such under-researched association among a sample of school-aged children in Argentina. Methods: This case control study comprised 8 elementary public schools of the county of Moron, Province of Buenos Aires. In 2013, 740 children ages 9-10 completed a questionnaire evaluating type and role played in B. Five types of B were analysed: general, physical, verbal, relational, and cybernetic; analysed roles were victim and perpetrator. Height and weight were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. The relation between bullying and BMI was studied using a general linear mixed model including BMI, gender, and height as fixed effects, and course as random effect. Findings: Types of B analysed showed a significant association between BMI and physical B (OR-obesity: 2.1; p = 0.001 y OR-overweight: 1.7; p = 0.011), between obesity and verbal B (OR: 1.7; p = 0.010) and between obesity and relational B (OR: 1.7; p = 0.023). Boys reported suffering more physical B than girls (OR: 1.7; p = 0.005), and a tendency to be more often the perpetrators (OR: 1.5; p = 0.070). Conclusions: Overweight and obese 9-10 year children of public schools of Argentine appear to be at significantly increased risk of bullying. Teachers, physical education instructors, and paediatricians should aim to address this behaviour when designing obesity prevention and treatment interventions.
Highlights
Overweight and obesity are serious problems posing one of the most difficult public health challenges of the 21st century in many countries [1]
A pioneer study carried out five decades ago among children ages 10-11 years old showed that the picture of an overweight child was ranked last in order of whom they would prefer as friends
The main objective of this study was to analyse the association between a higher body mass index (BMI) and bullying among 9-10 y children of public schools of Buenos Aires; the secondary objective was to analyse the relationship between the different types of bullying and the condition of being overweight or obese
Summary
Overweight and obesity are serious problems posing one of the most difficult public health challenges of the 21st century in many countries [1]. A 2007 study carried out in Argentina, showed that more than 25% of the children of middle and low economic status of Buenos Aires aged 10-11 years old were overweight [3,4]. A pioneer study carried out five decades ago among children ages 10-11 years old showed that the picture of an overweight child was ranked last in order of whom they would prefer as friends. This choice was preceded by children with physical disabilities, with a facial disfigurement, and by an average weight child with no disabilities [11].
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