Understanding the Early Signs of Chronic Disease by Investigating the Overlap of Mental Health Needs and Adolescent Obesity.

Tyler C Smith Ms Phd,Besa Smith Mph Phd

doi:10.3934/publichealth.2015.3.487

Abstract

ObjectiveChildhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions with two to three-fold increases in prevalence in the past three decades. Sedentary lifestyles and nutrition have been linked to these increases though little is known about mental health illnesses in children and teens which may be precursors to negative modifiable health risk factors. The objective of this study was to investigate for a potentially more clinically practical indicator of depression over a multi-item screen in respect to reporting of overweight and obesity in adolescents. This study further investigated modifiers to this association and stability of association.MethodThis cross-sectional study aggregated 2007/2009 California Health Interview Survey data (n = 6,917 adolescents). Univariate analyses of population characteristics and modifiable behaviors with obesity/overweight and depression are presented. Multivariable weighted logistic regression was used to compare the adjusted odds of overweight and obesity for those children with reported depression.ResultsAfter controlling for gender, race/ethnicity, age, and modifiable behaviors, there was a statistically significant relationship between reported depression and overweight/obesity (OR = 1.24; 95% CI = 1.04, 1.49). This effect size was consistent in hierarchical models overall and stratified by gender.ConclusionsOverweight and obesity in adolescents should be understood clinically in the context of depression and other mental health illness. This study highlights a routine primary care or parental screening assessment that could indicate tendencies in adolescent boys and girls which may be precursors to overweight or obesity. Further research should be conducted to identify ways for integrating adolescent mental health screens into primary care.

Highlights

Childhood obesity is at epidemic levels, estimated to affect one in three children and adolescents in the United States [1]
Sedentary lifestyles and nutrition have been linked to these increases though little is known about mental health illnesses in children and teens which may be precursors to negative modifiable health risk factors
The prevalence of obesity in United States (US) adults has risen to epic proportions over the past several decades causing great concern and considerable attention to be focused on the concurrent, though lesser, epidemic of childhood and adolescent obesity

Summary

Introduction

Childhood obesity is at epidemic levels, estimated to affect one in three children and adolescents in the United States [1]. Research aimed at understanding impact of regular physical activity [4], better nutrition [5], and less sedentary practices for lowering the risk of obesity have been prolific[1]. These have fostered aggressive campaigns against behaviors which many consider to be the cause of childhood obesity and in turn may be resulting in the stabilization of the prevalence of obesity in US children though it is still too early to confirm [6]. Potential modifiers of this association including age, gender, and physical activity as well as the stability of the measure of the association between depression and overweight/obesity were investigated and are discussed

Methods

Results

Conclusion