The childhood obesity is increasing at an unimaginable rate. The Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO) are trying hard to reduce obesity and the problems related to it, by conducting various awareness programs, state programs, surveillance and research, and technical assistance to fight the childhood obesity. Apart from all these, kids are getting many psychological effects due to obesity.
Psychological Effects of Childhood Obesity
Some of the effects due to childhood obesity are:
- Low Self-Esteem
- Laziness
- Increased carelessness
Childhood Obesity and Low Self-Esteem
Right from the childhood, it is a common human tendency to compare ourselves with others. In this artificial world, looks get the first preference and best impression. All the over-weight kids get separated and bullied in schools. The obese kids not only get segregated from others, but also are not allowed to join any sport or other group events. After a lot of peer aggression and teasing, many children feel hesitant to socialize. This affects the self-esteem of the children.
Childhood Obesity and Laziness
Many kids who are obese, are lazy. They try to skip all their work and sit in front of a computer or television. They avoid going out, as they feel it as an embarrassing moment. Due to lack of any physical activity, they increase weight even further.
Childhood Obesity and Carelessness
Obesity can make the kids become careless. After a while, their obese problems don’t seem to bother them any more. As a result many of them stop thinking about their peers, and even themselves. This leads to carelessness and addiction to alcohol and drugs.
Suggestions to Reduce Psychological Effects of Childhood Obesity
- A great support from the family members.
- Controlled diet and physical activity.
- Having fat burning food will help you a lot.
Joining some groups, if required, groups that are specially formed for obese children.
How Depression and Childhood Obesity are Related?
Childhood is a phase of life where presence of parents around the child is of utmost importance. Unfortunately, there are changes in our priorities of life. Parents are more involved in raising the standard of living of the family members. In this process, they hardly have some quality time to spend for the family. Children grow without the love, affection and guidance of the parents. Interaction with the parents is slotted on only weekends par se. For the rest of the week, they miss their parents in every sense of the word.
Emotional loneliness causes drop in self esteem and slowly the issue heads toward depression in a very young age. The impact of this undesirable mental condition lasts for the rest of the life of the individual if not addressed on time. Parents cant blame their kids for spending hours before television or computer and eat fast food. They are absent in times when children make these choices and by the time they intervene the damage is done more or less.
