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Linking psychosocial stressors and childhood obesity

C Gundersen1, D Mahatmya, S Garasky

  • 1Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA. cggunder@illinois.edu

Obesity Reviews : an Official Journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity
|November 9, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Childhood obesity is linked to environmental stressors, especially for low-income children. Effective prevention requires reducing family financial stress and teaching children coping mechanisms for stressors.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Pediatrics
  • Psychology

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a significant public health issue with numerous contributing factors.
  • Environmental factors, particularly psychosocial stressors, are increasingly recognized as key contributors.
  • Low-income children face disproportionately high rates of both stress and obesity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent research on the relationship between psychosocial stressors and childhood obesity.
  • To synthesize findings from studies examining household and individual stressors.
  • To identify policy implications for childhood obesity prevention and intervention.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of literature focusing on psychosocial stressors and childhood obesity.
  • Analysis of 11 articles on household stressors and 8 articles on individual stressors.
  • Synthesis of health outcomes associated with stress exposure in children.

Main Results:

  • Evidence links various psychosocial stressors to increased risk of childhood obesity.
  • Household stressors and individual stressors both show significant associations with obesity.
  • Low-income populations are particularly vulnerable to these stress-obesity links.

Conclusions:

  • Reducing financial stress through social safety nets may help decrease childhood obesity rates.
  • Childhood obesity prevention programs should incorporate stress management and coping skills.
  • Future research should further explore the complex interplay between stressors and obesity in children.

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