Comparison of Anxiety, Depression and Lifestyle in Obese and Normal Weight Children

Childhood obesity is a health issue that, in addition to physical complications, can have many psychological consequences such as anxiety and depression. The aim of the present study was to compare anxiety, depression and lifestyle in obese and normal weight children.
We carried out a cross-sectional study in Rasht, North of Iran. The study population included all children studying at primary school in city of Rasht during 2015-2016. Using non-probability multi-stage sampling method, a total of 240 children were selected. Body mass index was used to assess obesity. Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale, Children Depression Inventory, and Lifestyle Assessment Questionnaire were used to measure anxiety, depression, and lifestyle, respectively. Analysis of covariance was used to compare adjusted mean of anxiety, depression, and lifestyle between the two groups.
The mean age of participants was 11.78 years (standard deviation = 0.7). There was no statistical significant difference between obese and normal weight children in anxiety and depression. The adjusted mean of lifestyle score in obese children (216, 95% CI:211-221) was significantly lower than that in the normal weight group (224, 95% CI:219-229). In both groups of obese and normal weight, the mean lifestyle scores in girls (214, 95% CI:209-219) were significantly lower than boys (226, 95% CI:221-231).
This study found no significant association between obesity with psychological disorders of anxiety and depression. Regarding to the better lifestyle scores of normal weight children compared to that of obese children, prospective studies on school-age children’s lifestyle especially in girls is needed.