A Study to Assess the Emotional and Behavioral Problems Among overweight Children in Selected Schools at Mysuru

Introduction: 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.

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

Methods: 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.

Findings: 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.

Conclusion: 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.