Childhood Obesity: An Emotional Burden
by Matthew Ajaj
January 30, 2022
Extra pounds are a major emotional burden on a child. It is well known that a child’s weight is associated with a myriad of physical health problems, but its effects on their mental health are of equal or even greater concern.
A 2016 research review which collected the results of over 50 studies reveals numerous mental health consequences of childhood obesity. Overweight and obese children were more likely to be diagnosed with depression than normal weight children. They were also found to have significantly lower self-esteem. Furthermore, overweight and obese children between 6-13 years old were “4-8 times more likely to be teased and bullied than normal-weight peers.” [1]
And although the statistics are telling, they are not necessary to paint the picture: the “fat kid” archetype is a universal experience wrought with many disadvantages. We all witnessed it (or experienced it ourselves) in our schooldays. The fat child could not keep up with the other kids in gym class and recess. They were subject to snickering and derision behind their backs. Worst of all, they struggled to find friends.
Why is the fat child subjected to these social circumstances? While obesity is disease, it is also a symptom—a feature indicative of an underlying problem—and children subconsciously recognize obesity as a personal failing to take care of one’s health.
Numerous studies have shown that when people observe obese individuals, the disgust center of the brain (the insular cortex) is activated. [2,3] Much like a stained shirt or a smelly odor, obesity is a physical indicator of a lack of self-care. So when a child teases the fat kid about their weight, their words are not originating out of sheer meanness and utter spontaneity but rather from a natural feeling of repulsion. Of course, this is not excusing the mean child’s hurtful words—we should treat all people with love and kindness, and we should encourage our own children to do the same. But it is because of children’s bluntness and lack of inhibitions that their actions are particularly poignant in revealing the reality of the human psyche, as even though adults are better able to hold their tongue and uphold civility, the same thoughts of disgust linger in the coffers of their minds.
As an adult, the parent assumes responsibility in the child’s behavior and outcomes. The parent’s number one job is to prepare their child for the world. Your tender love and care is incredibly important, but your child is not held within your warm embrace for now and forever—and so they have to be ready for life’s icy winds.
If you constantly spoiled your child and never encouraged them to share, their peers would quickly grow to dislike them and ignore them, and your child would fester into a lonely and resentful castaway. Similarly, letting your child become obese produces comparable effects: their peers would be repulsed by them and reject them, and they would be left feeling unwanted and wrought with unrealized social potential. Of course, there are variations to these outcomes: some peers may be more kind than others, and your child may have many other great qualities that allows them to better navigate the societal straits. But in the end, their obesity will have done them no favors and only served as a hindrance.
What can you do as a parent to prevent obesity in your child? Prepare their meals at home and pack their lunch for school. Designate or put limits on what snacks your child is allowed to have and how much. Make going out to eat a rare and exciting treat. These are not mind-blowing tips, but they are basic guidelines to ensure you are monitoring and curbing what your child eats.
As a parent, your role is not that of a halfhearted friend who will go along with whatever the child wants; it is easy to let your kid rummage through the pantry for breakfast and give them lunch money and bring home takeout twice a week. Like anything worthwhile, ensuring your child’s healthy diet will necessitate hard work and diligence on your part to make their meals and monitor their intake. The central parental role is to support your child in every way possible that will prepare them for the trials of the world and so that they may become well-adapted, resilient individuals who go on to lead happy and fulfilling lives.
No child is destined to be fat, but the “fat kid” is destined for a burdensome path. They will face bullies, self-esteem issues, and depression. Their peers will be biologically attuned to feel disgust at the sight of them, and they will be more likely to reject them and leave them with unrealized social potential. Do not let your child’s pounds weigh them down: it is ultimately the parent’s duty to ensure their child is a healthy weight so that they can maintain a healthy mind.* * *
Citations
[1] Rankin J, Matthews L, Cobley S, et al. Psychological consequences of childhood obesity: psychiatric comorbidity and prevention. Adolesc Health Med Ther. 2016;7:125-146. Published 2016 Nov 14. doi:10.2147/AHMT.S101631
[2] Vartanian LR, Trewartha T, Beames JR, Azevedo SM, Vanman EJ. Physiological and self-reported disgust reactions to obesity. Cogn Emot. 2018;32(3):579-592. doi:10.1080/02699931.2017.1325728
[3] Vartanian LR. Disgust and perceived control in attitudes toward obese people. Int J Obes (Lond). 2010;34(8):1302-1307. doi:10.1038/ijo.2010.45