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BMI correlation with psychiatric problems among 10-18 years Iranian students
Marjan Zakeri1, Mojtaba Sedaghat, Mohammad Esmaeil Motlagh
1Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
Acta Medica Iranica
|March 16, 2012
Summary
This study found that while obesity may protect against emotional problems in Iranian students, girls experience higher rates of psychiatric symptoms. Obese boys showed a protective effect, possibly due to societal factors.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Psychiatry
- Adolescent Health
Background:
- Obesity and its associated emotional and physical health issues are a global concern.
- Obese individuals frequently face social stigma, impacting their mental well-being.
- Understanding the interplay between obesity, demographics, and mental health in adolescents is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between body mass index (BMI), gender, and age with psychiatric symptoms in Iranian students.
- To identify specific risk factors and protective elements related to mental health in an adolescent population.
Main Methods:
- A large-scale study involving 9172 Iranian students aged 10-18 years.
- Data collection utilized the World Health Organization's Global School-Based Health Survey (GSHS-WHO) questionnaire.
- Statistical analysis assessed the prevalence of emotional problems, depression, and anxiety predictors.
Main Results:
- Prevalence rates for predictors of emotional problems, depression, and anxiety were 27.8%, 29.7%, and 11.5%, respectively.
- Girls exhibited significantly higher prevalence of psychiatric symptom predictors compared to boys.
- Obesity acted as a protective factor against emotional problems overall (OR: 0.79), particularly in boys (OR: 0.72), but depression and anxiety were higher in intermediate and high school girls and boys.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent girls require increased attention for their psychological health challenges.
- Obesity's indirect relationship with psychiatric problems in Iranian boys may stem from cultural beliefs, lower vulnerability, or reduced parental pressure to lose weight.
- The findings highlight the need for gender-specific mental health interventions in adolescents, considering the complex role of obesity.
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