Obesity Related Psychological Problems and Involvement of Mothers in Obese Behavior of Adolescent Daughters

Obesity is one of the most prevalent nutrition-related problems in western societies. Many studies indicated that obese children with body dissatisfaction had significantly lower self-esteem and high level of depressive symptoms than the obese children without body dissatisfaction and normal weight children. The obesity may have many psychological outcomes like low self-esteem, declined academic performances, etc. In India obesity is a growing problem basically in children and adolescents. The present study is planned to track the physical, psychological, social and environmental factors associated with the overweight and obesity of children and adolescents of eastern part of Uttar Pradesh and also try to focus on the parents of such children on how they contribute in their children weight gain and their awareness about the health related consequences of obesity. The preliminary interview data on 25 obese girls (aged between 13 to 18 years) suggested that all the participants were not part in extracurricular activities of school, not using exercises, yoga in their daily routine and also they were admitted that most of the day they are not taking proper breakfast. Aggression, stress and low confidence was also noticed in all the participant girls. Parents were aware of obesity and some of its unable efforts motivate their girls for proper diet and exercise. These obese girls face and teasing by their peers and siblings and this is one reason that they did not participant in social occasion's outdoor activities and parties and their problem of obesity further aggravates. The findings are throwing a light on the causes and maintaining factors of obesity as well as the psychological and social indicators of obesity and some associated factors, the parental role etc.