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Updated: Aug 5, 2026
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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Associations Between Weight Status, Peer Victimization, and Mental Health in Clinically Referred Children: A
Summary
Underweight and obese children face more peer victimization and anxiety disorders than normal-weight peers. These weight extremes are linked to internalizing problems, suggesting the need for routine psychosocial screening.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Developmental Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Peer victimization and internalizing symptoms are significant concerns in pediatric populations.
- Understanding the relationship between weight status (underweight, normal-weight, obese) and psychosocial outcomes is crucial for clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of peer victimization, internalizing symptoms, and psychiatric disorders in underweight and obese clinically referred youth compared to normal-weight peers.
- To examine the predictive relationships between weight status, victimization, and internalizing problems.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study included 161 children (aged 7-17) categorized as underweight (n=51), normal-weight (n=57), or obese (n=53).
- Data were collected using the Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire, the Child Depression Inventory (CDI), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAI-C trait), and the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime version (K-SADS-PL).
Main Results:
- Underweight and obese children reported significantly higher rates of peer victimization and anxiety disorders compared to normal-weight children.
- Trait anxiety symptoms were elevated in both underweight and obese groups, while depressive symptoms did not differ significantly between weight categories.
- Victimized youth exhibited higher rates of both anxiety and depressive disorders. Underweight status predicted anxiety disorder, while underweight and obesity predicted victimization. Victimization, in turn, predicted depressive disorder.
Conclusions:
- Weight extremes (underweight and obesity) in clinically referred children are associated with increased peer victimization and internalizing problems.
- Findings support the integration of routine psychosocial screening for victimization and internalizing symptoms in the clinical assessment of children with weight extremes.
- Addressing weight status and peer relationships is essential for improving the mental health outcomes of at-risk youth.
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