The Impact of Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy on Anthropometric Indices Balance in High-School Obese Girls’ Students in Iran

Abstract

Over the past few decades the incidence of obesity has arisen to concerning level in world wide. Obesity prevalence rates are steadily rising in the majority of the modern Western societies, as well as in the developing world. Moreover, alarming trend s of weight gain are reported for children and adolescents, undermining the present and future health status of the pediatric population. The global prevalence of obesity and overweight for 2010 has been estimated at 46% in the Americas and 38% in the European region. According to Prentice (2006), Canada has a 15% prevalence rate while Germany has 21%. In Asia, Iran has a prevalence rate of 10% with children making up most of the obese population particularly among girl students (11-15) Bahrain has 29%. According to the most recent statistics, it shows the increasing problem of childhood obesity and its consequences in different part of the world is a major public health concern. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared overweight as one of the top ten health risks in the world and one of the top five in developed nations. According to the degree and duration of weight gain obesity can progressively causes serious physical illnesses and psychological problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease - cardiovascular, stroke, gallbladder, gout, diabetes, Osteoarthritis, insulin resistance, respiratory diseases such as obstructive sleep apnea, psychosocial problems such as stress,tension and depressive relapse. Considering all mentioned above, it can be inferred that obesity in general term and childhood obesity in particular poses a significant burden on the society due to a wide spectrum of complications both in the short term and later in life. Thus in order to highlight importance of early intervention and prevention of obesity in children and adolescents, this study tries to find out and emphasize the possible relationship between cognitive function, obesity and the weight adjustment especially among girls in the age group 11-15 ages. And to measure and highlight the impact of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on reducing health risks associated with Obesity and Psychological problems.