Children who are bullied at school tend to have a higher than average BMI, which puts their health at risk.
- Obesity affects nearly 10 million French people.
- This health problem can be exacerbated by bullying at school.
- This conclusion is based on a cohort of 115 children aged 8 to 17 years and residing in the Washington DC area.
A new study published in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology showed that overweight or obese children are more upset by teasing from their peers, which makes their problem worse.
Participants in this research were drawn from a longitudinal study already underway since 2015. 115 children aged 8 to 17 years residing in the Washington DC area were selected and followed for 6 years. 28% of them were overweight or obese.
The children completed assessments about their perceived social* and socioeconomic status, potential distress from peer teasing, and their relationship to hunger. In addition, the researchers collected data to calculate body mass index and fat mass index for all participating youth.
Parents also provided insights into their child’s eating habits.
Teasing makes children eat when they are not hungry
The results of the analyses revealed that children who experienced greater distress related to teasing tended to have a higher than average body mass index (BMI). This link was particularly strong among children with lower social and economic status.
Children with lower social status were also more likely to eat when they were not hungry, with this trend only being significant among those who had been bullied at school.
“Exposure to teasing-related distress was also independently associated with a higher total body fat index score,” conclude the authors of the study.
18.1% of adults in France are obese
According to a new investigation18.1% of adults in France are obese, or nearly 10 million people.
In detail, 17.9% of adults living in mainland France are affected by obesity compared to 22.4% of overseas residents. 16.9% of seniors over 65 suffer from this disease, and 24.7% of people reporting having economic difficulties in their household are affected.
“The results of this study highlight the importance of immediate and concerted action to combat the disease of obesity in France. It is imperative to intensify awareness, prevention and treatment efforts, with a particular focus on the populations most at risk,” estimates the League against obesity.
*Social status refers to the child’s level of acceptance and popularity within a peer group.
