Childhood Obesity and Overweight Are Associated with Higher Risk of Depression and Anxiety: A Cross-Sectional Study in Children Aged 6–9 Years
<b>Background/Objectives:</b> The global prevalence of childhood obesity and overweight is steadily increasing, representing a pressing public health concern due to its persistence during adolescence and adulthood and its association with elevated morbidity and mortality risks. This cros...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Life |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/6/968 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849705123639459840 |
|---|---|
| author | Konstantinos Papadimitriou Maria Mentzelou Sousana K. Papadopoulou Georgios Antasouras Georgia-Eirini Deligiannidou Olga Alexatou Apostolia Ntovoli Evmorfia Psara Vasiliki G. Papadopoulou Constantinos Giaginis |
| author_facet | Konstantinos Papadimitriou Maria Mentzelou Sousana K. Papadopoulou Georgios Antasouras Georgia-Eirini Deligiannidou Olga Alexatou Apostolia Ntovoli Evmorfia Psara Vasiliki G. Papadopoulou Constantinos Giaginis |
| author_sort | Konstantinos Papadimitriou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background/Objectives:</b> The global prevalence of childhood obesity and overweight is steadily increasing, representing a pressing public health concern due to its persistence during adolescence and adulthood and its association with elevated morbidity and mortality risks. This cross-sectional study was designed to examine the potential association between overweight/obesity and the presence of depressive and anxiety symptoms in children aged 6 to 9 years. <b>Methods:</b> A total of 4098 children from various urban and rural regions in Greece were enrolled. Data was collected through maternal questionnaires capturing sociodemographic characteristics, perinatal outcomes, anthropometric measurements, breastfeeding practices, and physical activity levels. Children fulfilled the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children—State form (STAIC-S) to evaluate symptoms of depression and anxiety, respectively. <b>Results:</b> Childhood overweight/obesity was independently and significantly associated with a more than two-fold increased likelihood of presenting depressive and anxiety symptoms. Childhood overweight/obesity was also significantly associated with maternal obesity, gestational weight gain, childbirth weight, mode of delivery, exclusive breastfeeding, and children’s physical activity. <b>Conclusions:</b> Overweight and obesity in children aged 6–9 years are significantly associated with an elevated risk of psychological distress, including depression and anxiety. These findings underscore the need for targeted public health policies and nutritional interventions aimed at promoting healthy lifestyle practices from early childhood. Educational efforts should also support new mothers in adopting and sustaining health-promoting behaviors to mitigate the long-term consequences of childhood obesity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a587c37968d04fdca7dfa7b73e3c1860 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2075-1729 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Life |
| spelling | doaj-art-a587c37968d04fdca7dfa7b73e3c18602025-08-20T03:16:33ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292025-06-0115696810.3390/life15060968Childhood Obesity and Overweight Are Associated with Higher Risk of Depression and Anxiety: A Cross-Sectional Study in Children Aged 6–9 YearsKonstantinos Papadimitriou0Maria Mentzelou1Sousana K. Papadopoulou2Georgios Antasouras3Georgia-Eirini Deligiannidou4Olga Alexatou5Apostolia Ntovoli6Evmorfia Psara7Vasiliki G. Papadopoulou8Constantinos Giaginis9Department of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, School of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, 57001 Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Environment, University of Aegean, 81100 Myrina, GreeceDepartment of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, School of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, 57001 Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Environment, University of Aegean, 81100 Myrina, GreeceDepartment of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, School of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, 57001 Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Environment, University of Aegean, 81100 Myrina, GreeceDepartment of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Frederick University, 3080 Limassol, CyprusDepartment of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Environment, University of Aegean, 81100 Myrina, GreeceDepartment of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, School of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, 57001 Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Environment, University of Aegean, 81100 Myrina, Greece<b>Background/Objectives:</b> The global prevalence of childhood obesity and overweight is steadily increasing, representing a pressing public health concern due to its persistence during adolescence and adulthood and its association with elevated morbidity and mortality risks. This cross-sectional study was designed to examine the potential association between overweight/obesity and the presence of depressive and anxiety symptoms in children aged 6 to 9 years. <b>Methods:</b> A total of 4098 children from various urban and rural regions in Greece were enrolled. Data was collected through maternal questionnaires capturing sociodemographic characteristics, perinatal outcomes, anthropometric measurements, breastfeeding practices, and physical activity levels. Children fulfilled the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children—State form (STAIC-S) to evaluate symptoms of depression and anxiety, respectively. <b>Results:</b> Childhood overweight/obesity was independently and significantly associated with a more than two-fold increased likelihood of presenting depressive and anxiety symptoms. Childhood overweight/obesity was also significantly associated with maternal obesity, gestational weight gain, childbirth weight, mode of delivery, exclusive breastfeeding, and children’s physical activity. <b>Conclusions:</b> Overweight and obesity in children aged 6–9 years are significantly associated with an elevated risk of psychological distress, including depression and anxiety. These findings underscore the need for targeted public health policies and nutritional interventions aimed at promoting healthy lifestyle practices from early childhood. Educational efforts should also support new mothers in adopting and sustaining health-promoting behaviors to mitigate the long-term consequences of childhood obesity.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/6/968childhood obesitymaternal obesitygestational weight gainexclusive breastfeedingphysical activitydepression |
| spellingShingle | Konstantinos Papadimitriou Maria Mentzelou Sousana K. Papadopoulou Georgios Antasouras Georgia-Eirini Deligiannidou Olga Alexatou Apostolia Ntovoli Evmorfia Psara Vasiliki G. Papadopoulou Constantinos Giaginis Childhood Obesity and Overweight Are Associated with Higher Risk of Depression and Anxiety: A Cross-Sectional Study in Children Aged 6–9 Years Life childhood obesity maternal obesity gestational weight gain exclusive breastfeeding physical activity depression |
| title | Childhood Obesity and Overweight Are Associated with Higher Risk of Depression and Anxiety: A Cross-Sectional Study in Children Aged 6–9 Years |
| title_full | Childhood Obesity and Overweight Are Associated with Higher Risk of Depression and Anxiety: A Cross-Sectional Study in Children Aged 6–9 Years |
| title_fullStr | Childhood Obesity and Overweight Are Associated with Higher Risk of Depression and Anxiety: A Cross-Sectional Study in Children Aged 6–9 Years |
| title_full_unstemmed | Childhood Obesity and Overweight Are Associated with Higher Risk of Depression and Anxiety: A Cross-Sectional Study in Children Aged 6–9 Years |
| title_short | Childhood Obesity and Overweight Are Associated with Higher Risk of Depression and Anxiety: A Cross-Sectional Study in Children Aged 6–9 Years |
| title_sort | childhood obesity and overweight are associated with higher risk of depression and anxiety a cross sectional study in children aged 6 9 years |
| topic | childhood obesity maternal obesity gestational weight gain exclusive breastfeeding physical activity depression |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/6/968 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT konstantinospapadimitriou childhoodobesityandoverweightareassociatedwithhigherriskofdepressionandanxietyacrosssectionalstudyinchildrenaged69years AT mariamentzelou childhoodobesityandoverweightareassociatedwithhigherriskofdepressionandanxietyacrosssectionalstudyinchildrenaged69years AT sousanakpapadopoulou childhoodobesityandoverweightareassociatedwithhigherriskofdepressionandanxietyacrosssectionalstudyinchildrenaged69years AT georgiosantasouras childhoodobesityandoverweightareassociatedwithhigherriskofdepressionandanxietyacrosssectionalstudyinchildrenaged69years AT georgiaeirinideligiannidou childhoodobesityandoverweightareassociatedwithhigherriskofdepressionandanxietyacrosssectionalstudyinchildrenaged69years AT olgaalexatou childhoodobesityandoverweightareassociatedwithhigherriskofdepressionandanxietyacrosssectionalstudyinchildrenaged69years AT apostoliantovoli childhoodobesityandoverweightareassociatedwithhigherriskofdepressionandanxietyacrosssectionalstudyinchildrenaged69years AT evmorfiapsara childhoodobesityandoverweightareassociatedwithhigherriskofdepressionandanxietyacrosssectionalstudyinchildrenaged69years AT vasilikigpapadopoulou childhoodobesityandoverweightareassociatedwithhigherriskofdepressionandanxietyacrosssectionalstudyinchildrenaged69years AT constantinosgiaginis childhoodobesityandoverweightareassociatedwithhigherriskofdepressionandanxietyacrosssectionalstudyinchildrenaged69years |