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Quality in Sport

The Impact of Childhood Obesity on Mental Health: A Comprehensive Review
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  • The Impact of Childhood Obesity on Mental Health: A Comprehensive Review
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The Impact of Childhood Obesity on Mental Health: A Comprehensive Review

Authors

  • Jan Spychalski IndependentPublicComplexofHealthCareFacilitiesoftheMinistryofInteriorandAdministrationonPoznań,DojazdStr.34,60-631Poznań,Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-1039-0637
  • Mikołaj Musiał Independent Public Complex of Health Care Facilities of the Ministry of Interior and Administration in Poznań https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3113-8677
  • Maria Spychalska University Clinical Hospital in Poznań, Przybyszewskiego Str. 49, 60-355 Poznań, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-1880-9279
  • Adrianna Dylik Poznan University of Medical Sciences ul. Fredry 10, 61-701 Poznań https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9931-4699
  • Weronika Gryczyńska Poznan University of Medical Sciences ul. Fredry 10, 61-701 Poznań https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8843-2444
  • Wiktoria Grochowska University Clinical Hospital in Poznań, Przybyszewskiego Str. 49, 60-355 Poznań, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0005-2681-0452
  • Mikołaj Kaczmarek University Clinical Hospital in Poznań, Przybyszewskiego Str. 49, 60-355 Poznań, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8335-230X
  • Łukasz Krawczak Poznan Voivodship Hospital, Juraszów 7/19, 60-479 Poznań https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2805-5779
  • Hanna Gulaczyk University Clinical Hospital in Poznań, Przybyszewskiego Str. 49, 60-355 Poznań, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0003-6804-7171

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12775/QS.2024.36.56639

Keywords

obesity, overweight, mental health, childhood, mood disorders, psychiatric disorders, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, ADHD

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity and overweight are among the main health issues affecting the child population in developed countries today. Excess body weight is observed in 29.7% of boys and 14.3% of girls aged 11 to 16 years. Studies reveal that childhood overweight increases the odds of having mental disorders in adolescence compared to children with a normal body weight.

Aim of the study: The aim of this study is to analyse the available literature in order to examine the impact of childhood obesity on mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, eating disorders and schizophrenia,

Materials and methods: Comprehensive review of the literature available on PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus database by searching the keywords “obesity”, “overweight”, “ mental health”, “childhood”, “mood disorders” “psychiatric disorders”, “anxiety”, “depression”, “eating disorders”, “ADHD”  

Results and conclusion: Childhood obesity is a growing global problem with physical and health consequences. It is associated with various factors such as social stigma, neurological imbalances or malfunction and other environmental factors related to obesity. It contributes to the growth of depression, ADHD, anxiety, eating disorders, OCD and even schizophrenia. Preventing and treating obese or overweight children have to be done, by affecting both physical and mental health.

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2024-12-20

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SPYCHALSKI, Jan, MUSIAŁ, Mikołaj, SPYCHALSKA, Maria, DYLIK, Adrianna, GRYCZYŃSKA, Weronika, GROCHOWSKA, Wiktoria, KACZMAREK, Mikołaj, KRAWCZAK, Łukasz and GULACZYK, Hanna. The Impact of Childhood Obesity on Mental Health: A Comprehensive Review. Quality in Sport. Online. 20 December 2024. Vol. 36, p. 56639. [Accessed 13 June 2025]. DOI 10.12775/QS.2024.36.56639.
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Copyright (c) 2024 Jan Spychalski, Mikołaj Musiał, Maria Spychalska, Adrianna Dylik, Weronika Gryczyńska, Wiktoria Grochowska, Mikołaj Kaczmarek, Łukasz Krawczak, Hanna Gulaczyk

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