Data from a longitudinal study reveal clear links between childhood obesity and significant behavior problems, according to an article in the November issue of Pediatrics: Children with significant behavior problems are nearly three times as likely to be overweight as other children and children with behavior problems are as much as five times more likely to become overweight in the next few years.

In their analysis, the American researchers examined comprehensive demographic, weight, behavior, physical and mental health, education, and socioeconomic data from 755 children ages 8 to 11 years old at baseline and their mothers, all of whom were participating in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. The authors noted that the ability to use this database gave them the largest and most representative study of children’s behavior and weight to date.

The children in the study were classed as overweight if their body mass index was at or above the 95th percentile. Children were described as having behavior problems only if they were in the 90th percentile nationally for their score on the Behavior Problems Index, a standardized behavior rating scale that was completed by their mothers.

The association between overweight and behavior problems was clear in data from the 755 children assessed in 1998. Data from 639 children interviewed both in 1996 and 1998 showed the higher risk of later obesity in normal-weight children with behavior issues.

In both analyses, the researchers were able to see the clear links between the two conditions even after correcting for such contributing variables as a child’s gender, race, socioeconomic status, television habits, use of behavior-modifying medicines, and educational history, and factors relating to the obesity status, smoking habits, marital status, education and depression score of a child’s mother,

"After all of these were accounted for, we saw a clear independent association," said Julie Lumeng, MD, lead author of the study. "This demonstrates solidly for the first time what we have suspected for years from clinical experience, that there is an association between behavior problems and obesity, and that a child with behavior problems is more likely to go on to be overweight."

"In other words, we can’t ignore either the mind or the body in trying to prevent the lifelong health effects from weight problems and mental disorders that start in childhood," she added. "When interventions aren’t working with a child who is overweight, we need to address his or her mental well-being - and vice versa for kids with behavioral problems."