OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between body weight, body dissatisfaction and depression symptoms among Chinese children.

METHODSThe fasting body weight and height of the third and fourth grade students (n = 3886, aged 9 or 10 years) from 20 schools in Beijing, China, were measured, and the students were asked to choose the figures of body image and to complete the self-reported children's depression inventory (CDI) questionnaire.

RESULTSThe CDI Cronbach's alpha was 0.81. The total CDI score was 9.60 +/- 7.50, 13.2% of children (boys 16.7% vs girls 9.5%) were at risk of developing depression symptoms. Overweight girls, but not boys, had significantly higher total CDI score than their normal weight counteparts. Both obese girls and boys showed a higher negative self-esteem score. More than one fifth underweight girls still wanted to be thinner while more than one third obese boys still wanted to be heavier. Children who wanted to be thinner showed slightly higher scores of ineffectiveness and negative self-esteem. After introducing the body dissatisfaction into the model, overweight was still associated with total CDI score among girls and obesity was still associated with negative self-esteem among both boys and girls.

CONCLUSIONOverweight girls show a significantly higher depression symptom score than their normal weight counterparts, which maybe partially explained by body dissatisfaction. Obese boys and girls are both more likely to suffer from low self-esteem, which is partially explained by body dissatisfaction.

Body Image ; Body Weight ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Depression ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; psychology

OBJECTIVETo examine the relationships between overweight, obesity and indices as satisfaction of life, trait anxiety, depression, self concept etc. in male and female junior middle school students.

METHODSA questionnaire survey was administered to 1818 participants in a middle school in Hefei city, Anhui province. This contents of survey would include Multidimensional Students' Life Satisfaction Scale (MSLSS), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Trait Anxiety Inventory (TAI), and Piers-Harris Children's Self Concept Scale (PHSCS). Anthropometric measures were taken together with the calculation of body mass index (BMI). The students were divided into normal-weight, overweight and obesity groups by BMI separate criteria. Gender differences of mental health status and group differences of mental health among normal-weight, overweight obesity students were analyzed. Relationships between BMI and the scores of MSLSS, CES-D, TAI, PHSCS were estimated among boys and girls respectively.

RESULTSThe prevalence rates of overweight and obesity of boys (21.5%, 7.7%) were significantly higher than in girls (8.0%, 2.8%). Difference of the MSLSS scores in gender was significant among normal-weight group (P = 0.002). The difference of the CES-D scores in gender was significant among overweight group (P = 0.046). There were significant group differences of the CES-D scores, TAI scores, and PHSCS scores among normal-weight, overweight and obese girls (P < 0.05). Both the CES-D score and TAI score of obese girls were higher than normal-weight girls (P = 0.012 and P = 0.035). The PHSCS score of obese girls was lower than normal-weight girls (P = 0.014) and the group difference of the CES-D score was also significant between overweight and normal-weight girls (P = 0.025).

CONCLUSIONBoth prevalence rates of overweight and obesity of boys were higher than that in girls. Nevertheless, level of mental health level among girls with overweight and obesity were lower than that in boys.

Adolescent ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Depression ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Health ; statistics & numerical data ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Overweight ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Sex Distribution ; Students ; psychology ; statistics & numerical data ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of obesity and overweight in childhood has increased dramatically over the past decades globally. Thus, the risk factors of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents must be studied. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to reveal the prevalence of childhood obesity and examine the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and z-body mass index (z-BMI) via parental obesity and dietary intake using path analysis. METHODS: Stratified cluster sampling was used to select 17,007 participants aged 6-12 years on two avenues per region in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Path analysis was conducted to examine the mediators between SES and z-BMI. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were 13.36% and 8.60%, respectively, and were positively correlated with the father's education level, family income, a birth weight > 3000g, a parental obesity history, vegetable intake and red meat intake (all P < 0.05). Four mediators (paternal obesity history, red meat intake, vegetable intake, and nutritional supplements) were observed, and the four path analyses were significant (all P < 0.05). The adjusted total effects on z-BMI were significant for income (β CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of overweight/obesity in children was notable, and the relationship between SES and z-BMI was mediated by paternal obesity history and dietary intake.
Child ; China/epidemiology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Eating/psychology* ; Fathers/statistics & numerical data* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity/psychology* ; Pediatric Obesity/etiology* ; Social Class

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to explore how obesity was covered in television news in China, including the trends over time and the characteristics of obesity-related news.

METHODSThe frame analysis was adopted to assess the content of obesity-related news broadcasted in China Central Television (CCTV) from 1982 to 2009. To investigate the characteristics of the news, the obesity-related news was divided into subgroups according to populations concerned, as well as the period in which the news was broadcasted. The differences between subgroups were examined.

RESULTSA total of 1 599 pieces of news reported obesity, in which 1 278 pieces (79.92%) aired in "wealthy" period (2006-2009). More news was concerned with adults (1 134, 70.92%). "Individual behavior" dominated most of the cause frames (389, 24.33%), solution frames (522, 32.65%), and responsibility frames (860, 53.78%). There was more news mentioning individual factors in news aired in "wealthy" period and news concerning children. The coverage of social-structure causes was higher in news concerning children, while the coverage of social-structure solutions was higher in news concerning children and news aired in "wealthy" period.

CONCLUSIONAlthough the coverage of obesity was modest, it showed an incremental trend as the economy grew. Obesity was mostly depicted as an individual problem in terms of responsibility, causes and solutions.

Adult ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Life Style ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Public Opinion ; Social Conditions ; Television ; Time Factors

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to determine factors associated with underweight and obesity in elementary school children in Korea. METHODS: Study participants included 4,895 children attending 59 elementary schools across Korea. Children were grouped into underweight [< 5% body mass index (BMI)-for-age], normal weight (5%-85% BMI-for-age), and overweight/obese (> or = 85% BMI-for age). The questionnaire included demographic characteristics, health status, and diet and exercise behavior of children, and environmental characteristics of schools. RESULTS: Twelve percent of the children were overweight or obese. The results showed that demographic (age and gender), health status (atopic dermatitis and poor subjective health), and the characteristics of diet and exercise (unbalanced diet and diet experiences) were associated with underweight (p < .05), while demographic (age and gender), health status (poor subjective health), behavioral characteristics (fast food consumption and diet experiences), and school environmental characteristics (rural area) were associated with overweight/obesity (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Programs and interventions to reduce underweight and overweight/obesity in Korean elementary schools must consider behavioral and environmental characteristics of children.
Age Factors ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Child ; Child Behavior/*psychology ; *Diet ; *Exercise ; *Feeding Behavior/psychology ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity/epidemiology/*psychology ; Republic of Korea ; Sex Factors ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Thinness/epidemiology/*psychology

INTRODUCTIONGiven that past research on drinking problems has focused primarily on younger samples, the present study sought to examine the prevalence and correlates of alcohol use among the elderly in Singapore.

MATERIALS AND METHODSData were extracted from the Well-being of the Singapore Elderly (WiSE) study, a cross-sectional, epidemiological survey conducted among a nationally representative sample of Singapore residents (n = 2565) aged 60 years and above. Variables assessed include drinking problems, depression and anxiety symptoms, obesity, smoking status, chronic physical disorders and disability.

RESULTSThe weighted prevalence of drinking problems (CAGE score ≥2) in our sample was 4.2%. Male sex, Indian ethnicity, and being divorced or separated were associated with a significantly higher likelihood of drinking problems. Participants with drinking problems were also more likely to have subthreshold depression. There were no significant differences in disability among those with drinking problems, those without drinking problems and non-drinkers, after adjusting for demographic variables.

CONCLUSIONOur findings contribute to the body of research that indicates an association between drinking problems and depressive symptoms among the elderly. Thus, screening for depressive symptoms in the elderly with drinking problems may be useful in identifying such comorbidities in order to aid treatment planning.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alcohol-Related Disorders ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Alcoholism ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Anxiety ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Chronic Disease ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Divorce ; statistics & numerical data ; Ethnic Groups ; Female ; Humans ; India ; Male ; Marital Status ; Mass Screening ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors ; Singapore ; epidemiology ; Smoking ; epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective: To analyze the relationship between family-related factors and the status of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents aged 6-17 years in China. Methods: Data were collected from the China National Nutrition and Health Surveillance in 2010-2012 program. A sample of 6 343 subjects aged 6-17 years was selected, with matched weight, education levels, household income and other family related factors of their parents. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were used to explore the relationship between family factors and overweight and obesity in school-aged children and adolescents. Results: After adjusted for age, gender and region, results from the multivariate logistic regression showed that both the overweight and obesity of children and adolescents were associated with maternal BMI (OR=1.83, 95%CI: 1.63-2.05), paternal BMI (OR=1.74, 95%CI: 1.57-1.94), mother's educational level (OR=1.24, 95%CI: 1.12-1.37) and household income (OR=1.30, 95%CI: 1.15-1.46). Conclusion: Factors as overweight or obesity status of the parents, mother's educational level and household income were positively correlated with the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Chinese children and adolescents.
Adolescent ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Child ; China/epidemiology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Family/psychology* ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity/psychology* ; Overweight/psychology* ; Parent-Child Relations ; Parents ; Pediatric Obesity/ethnology* ; Prevalence ; Schools

INTRODUCTIONElevated levels of psychopathology have been described in various groups of obese patients. This study aimed to describe the presence of depressive and binge eating symptoms in patients presented for clinical weight management at a general hospital in Singapore, as well as their health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Correlations between these symptoms and other demographic and clinical variables were also sought.

MATERIALS AND METHODSPatients presented at a clinical weight management programme were asked to complete the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Binge Eating Scale (BES) and the Short Form-36 (SF-36). Clinical and demographic data were also collected.

RESULTSOf the group, 17.1% reported moderate or severe binge eating symptoms and 9.7% reported moderate or severe depressive symptoms. HRQOL, mostly in physical health domains, was lower in this sample compared to local norms. Within the group, binge eating and depressive symptoms, but not increasing obesity, predicted poorer HRQOL.

CONCLUSIONSPsychological symptoms are significantly present in patients presented for clinical weight management and these contribute to poorer quality of life. Addressing these symptoms will improve the overall well-beings of these patients and the total benefits gained will exceed the benefits of weight loss per se.

Adult ; Aged ; Depression ; complications ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Feeding and Eating Disorders ; complications ; epidemiology ; Female ; Health Status Indicators ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Disorders ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; complications ; ethnology ; psychology ; therapy ; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales ; Quality of Life ; psychology ; Singapore ; epidemiology ; Young Adult

Understanding obesity in children is crucial because it can lead to adulthood obesity and result in fatal chronic diseases. Distinctive factors associated with obesity in adults have been described, but distinctive factors related to children remain unclear. We analyzed the correlation between the percentage of body mass index and lifestyle habits by conducting surveys on physical, nutritional, and psychological factors, and we used annual physical examination data to compare different traits among elementary school students (n = 197) and middle school students (n = 461). Our study revealed that the computing hours in elementary school students with overweight and obesity were significantly correlated with the percentage of body mass index (r = 0.29 on school days and r = 0.35 on days off, all P < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was found (all P > 0.05) in the computing hours of middle school students with overweight and obesity. Childhood obesity can cause depression and reduce children's quality of life because of their distorted body perception. In conclusion, physical factors directly affecting childhood obesity and psychological and environmental factors surrounding a child should be considered.
Adolescent ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Diet ; Exercise ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pediatric Obesity ; epidemiology ; Physical Examination ; Quality of Life ; Republic of Korea ; epidemiology ; Students ; psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective personality tests, such as the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), might be more sensitive to reflect subclinical personality and be more state-dependent in an individual's lifetime, so they are good scales to predict the psychological distress regarding certain states. The aim of this study was to identify the specific pattern between body mass index (BMI) and psychological distress using the objective personality test. For this study, we investigated BMI and the Korean Military Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MPI). A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted with 19-yr-old examinees who were admitted to the Military Manpower Administration in Korea from February 2007 to January 2010. Of 1,088,107 examinees, we enrolled 771,408 subjects who were psychologically apparent healthy possible-military-service groups. Afterwards, we reviewed and analyzed directly measured BMI and MPI results. In terms of the validity scales, the faking-good subscale showed an inverted U-shaped association, and faking-bad and infrequency subscales showed a U-shaped association with BMI groups. In terms of the neurosis scales, all clinical subscales (anxiety, depression, somatization, and personality disorder) also showed a U-shaped association with BMI groups. For the psychopath scales, the schizophrenia subscale showed a U-shaped association, and the paranoia subscale showed a near-positive correlation with BMI. In conclusion, a specific U-shaped pattern was observed between BMI and the MPI in 19-yr-old men in Korea. Underweight and obesity are related to psychological distress, so supportive advice and education are needed to them.
Adult ; *Body Mass Index ; Causality ; Comorbidity ; Computer Simulation ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Men's Health ; Models, Biological ; Models, Psychological ; Multiphasic Screening/methods ; Obesity/*epidemiology/psychology ; Personality Inventory/*statistics & numerical data ; Prevalence ; Reproducibility of Results ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stress, Psychological/diagnosis/*epidemiology/*psychology ; Thinness/*epidemiology/psychology ; Young Adult