Comparison of Anxiety, Depression and Lifestyle in Obese and Normal Weight Children

Background: Childhood obesity is a health issue that, in addition to physical complications, canhave many psychological consequences such as anxiety and depression. The aim of the presentstudy was to compare anxiety, depression and lifestyle in obese and normal weight children.Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study in Rasht, North of Iran. The study populationincluded all children studying at primary school in city of Rasht during 2015-2016. Usingnon-probability multi-stage sampling method, a total of 240 children were selected. Body massindex was used to assess obesity. Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale, ChildrenDepression Inventory, and Lifestyle Assessment Questionnaire were used to measure anxiety,depression, and lifestyle, respectively. Analysis of covariance was used to compare adjusted meanof anxiety, depression, and lifestyle scores between the two groups.Results: The mean age of participants was 11.78 years (standard deviation = 0.7). There was nostatistical significant difference between obese and normal weight children in anxiety and depression.The adjusted mean of lifestyle score in obese children (216, 95% confidence interval (CI): 211-221)was significantly lower than that in the normal weight group (224, 95% CI: 219-229). In both groups ofobese and normal weight, the mean lifestyle scores in girls (214, 95% CI: 209-219) were significantlylower than boys (226, 95% CI: 221-231).Conclusion: This study found no significant association between obesity with psychologicaldisorders of anxiety and depression. Regarding to the better lifestyle scores of normal weightchildren compared to that of obese children, prospective studies on school-age children’s lifestyleespecially in girls is needed.

کلیدواژه ها:

Anxiety ، Depression ، Life Style ، Obesity