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Association between dyslexia and overweight/obesity among Chinese children: findings from a cross-sectional study

Bing Zhu1, Hong Fan2, Min Wang3

  • 1Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China.

Frontiers in Pediatrics
|July 31, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Children with dyslexia have a significantly higher risk of obesity. This highlights the need for targeted weight management strategies for dyslexic children, particularly girls.

Area of Science:

  • Childhood neurodevelopmental disorders
  • Pediatric obesity and public health

Background:

  • Neurodevelopmental disorders are frequently associated with overweight and obesity.
  • Research on the weight status of children with dyslexia is limited.
  • This study investigates the link between dyslexia and overweight/obesity in Chinese children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the association between dyslexia and overweight/obesity in Chinese children.
  • To identify potential disparities in weight status among children with and without dyslexia.

Main Methods:

  • Recruited 7,116 children from the Tongji Reading Environment and Dyslexia research program.
  • Defined overweight and obesity using the standard "Screening for overweight and obesity among school-aged children and adolescents (WS-T 586-2018)".
  • Employed logistic regression models to analyze the association between dyslexia and overweight/obesity.

Main Results:

  • Dyslexic children showed a higher proportion of obesity (23.9%) compared to non-dyslexic children (15.4%).
  • Children with dyslexia were more likely to be obese (OR=1.57, 95% CI: 1.10-2.24) after adjusting for confounders.
  • The association between dyslexia and obesity was more pronounced in girls; no significant link was found for overweight.

Conclusions:

  • Dyslexic children exhibit significantly higher odds of obesity.
  • Findings underscore the necessity for increased awareness and interventions for excess weight in this population.
  • Targeted strategies are crucial for mitigating obesity risks in children with dyslexia.
Abstract

Keywords:
Reading disabilitieschildrendyslexiaobesityoverweight

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