Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 12, 2025

Breakfast Habits among Schoolchildren in the City of Uruguaiana, Brazil
06:48

Breakfast Habits among Schoolchildren in the City of Uruguaiana, Brazil

Published on: July 29, 2020

4.5K

Behavioural Problems in Preadolescence: Does Nutritional Status Have a Role?

Bushra Khan1, Waqas Hameed2, Bilal Iqbal Avan3

  • 1Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.

Child: Care, Health and Development
|September 25, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Undernutrition in preadolescents, including being thin or stunted, significantly increases the risk of internalizing behavioral problems. Co-occurring malnutrition poses an even greater risk, highlighting the link between physical and mental health.

Area of Science:

  • Child and Adolescent Health
  • Public Health
  • Mental Health

Background:

  • Malnutrition is a global issue affecting children and adolescents, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
  • Behavioral problems are a growing concern in child and adolescent mental health.
  • Few studies have examined the association between malnutrition and behavioral problems in preadolescence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the epidemiological relationship between malnutrition and behavioral problems in preadolescence.
  • To investigate the impact of different types of malnutrition on behavioral issues.

Main Methods:

  • A school-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted in Karachi, Pakistan, involving 660 preadolescents aged 11–12 years.
  • Data collected through sociodemographic questionnaires, the Youth Self-Report Form (YSR), and anthropometric assessments.
  • The Youth Self-Report Form (YSR) is the child and adolescent reported version of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL).

Main Results:

  • Thin and stunted preadolescents showed significantly higher odds of internalizing problems (AOR=2.05-2.09).
  • Overnutrition was not associated with any behavioral issues.
  • 40% of preadolescents exhibited at least one type of malnutrition, with 3% having co-occurring malnutrition (stunted and thin or overweight).
  • Co-occurring malnutrition significantly increased the risk of internalizing problems (AOR=2.92), with a greater impact than single forms of malnutrition.

Conclusions:

  • Undernutrition is prevalent and significantly associated with internalizing problems in preadolescents.
  • This study is the first to report a significant association between co-occurring malnutrition and an increased risk of internalizing problems.
  • Highlights the importance of the physical-mental health link and the need for holistic interventions for preadolescents.
Abstract

Keywords:
CBCLYSRbehavioural problemsco‐occurring malnutritiondeveloping countriesnutritional statuspreadolescence

More Related Videos

Control of Eating Behavior Using a Novel Feedback System04:48

Control of Eating Behavior Using a Novel Feedback System

Published on: May 8, 2018

10.9K
Fat Preference: A Novel Model of Eating Behavior in Rats05:57

Fat Preference: A Novel Model of Eating Behavior in Rats

Published on: June 27, 2014

13.1K

Related Concept Videos

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder01:30

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
50
Anorexia Nervosa01:28

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of weight gain, an unrelenting pursuit of thinness, and a distorted body image. It often leads to dangerously low body weight relative to an individual's age and height. This disorder is marked by significant physical and psychological consequences, making it one of the most life-threatening psychiatric illnesses.
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
49
Bullying02:04

Bullying

A modern form of aggression is bullying. As you learn in your study of child development, socializing and playing with other children is beneficial for children’s psychological development. However, as you may have experienced as a child, not all play behavior has positive outcomes. Some children are aggressive and want to play roughly. Other children are selfish and do not want to share toys. One form of negative social interactions among children that has become a national concern is...
8.4K
Bulimia Nervosa01:30

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by a cyclical pattern of binge-and-purge eating pattern. It generally involves an episode of binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, excessive exercise, laxative use, or fasting, to prevent weight gain. Despite often maintaining a normal weight, individuals with bulimia are intensely preoccupied with their body image and harbor an overwhelming fear of gaining weight. This can contribute to the...
55
Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience,...
20.4K
Conduct Disorder01:28

Conduct Disorder

Conduct disorder is a complex mental health diagnosis characterized by a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior that violates societal norms, the rights of others, or age-appropriate rules. The diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder require the presence of at least three problematic behaviors within the past 12 months, with at least one occurring in the past six months. These behaviors are grouped into four categories: aggression toward people and animals; destruction of property;...
30