Comment l’obésité infantile affecte-t-elle la réussite scolaire ? Contributions d’une analyse qualitative mise en place à Mexico

Abstract

Titre courant impair : Effets de l'obésité infantile sur l'échec scolaire Résumé : Afin de mieux comprendre la relation causale qui existe entre le surpoids et l'obésité infantiles et l'échec scolaire, nous réalisons une étude qualitative à Mexico auprès de 29 élèves du primaire et du secondaire. Les conclusions issues de cette étude sont les suivantes. Tout d'abord, l'excès de poids affecte les performances scolaires à travers deux canaux interdépendants : la stigmatisation sociale et une perte de productivité. Trois principaux mécanismes régissent la relation. Tandis que la perte de productivité constitue à elle seule un de ces mécanismes, la stigmatisation sociale de l'obésité se décline en deux types de mécanismes : (i) les mécanismes sociaux directs, prenant la forme d'agression matérielle et d'exclusion par les pairs ; (ii) les mécanismes sociaux indirects se référant aux troubles psychosociologiques dont souffrent les individus stigmatisés. Enfin, le risque de se faire discriminer à cause de son poids dépend de différents facteurs individuels tels que l'âge, le genre, le niveau de corpulence et la distribution de l'adiposité dans le corps.  Mots-clés : obésité infantile-réussite scolaire-perte de productivité-stigmatisation sociale-analyse qualitative-Mexique. Title: How does childhood obesity affect school achievement? Contributions from a qualitative analysis implemented in Mexico City.

Cultural factors related to childhood and adolescent obesity in Mexico: A systematic review of qualitative studies

“…All the included studies were published during or after 2010. Overall, 12 studies 33,35,36,[38][39][40][44][45][46]48,49,51 included children or adolescents, 12 included parents, 29,30,32,[34][35][36][37]41,42,47,49,51 eight included teachers, 28,30,31,35,36,43,49,51 four included school principals or other school staff (not directly in charge of the child's care), 28,30,43,49 four included school food vendors or school's kitchen staff, 28,30,43,49 and one included policymakers or academics (Table A1). 50 Most of the studies were qualitative and used structured or semi-structured interviews with thematic analysis.…”

“…32 Children only reflected health issues related to obesity with adult relatives, not with themselves or other children. 39,40,45,46,48,49 Some children and adolescents with obesity accept having physical difficulties doing everyday tasks (e.g., agitation or lack of breath). However, these are not considered health issues.…”

“…39,40 Some children with obesity did not feel physically bad but emotionally sad because of their appearance or for not fitting in the clothes they liked. 32,39,40,46 Remarkably, several children with obesity show a lack of interest or worry when their weight issue is brought to their attention and seem reluctant to a lifestyle improvement. 30,32,38,40,44 Parents limited childhood obesity to an esthetic problem and did not consider their children's weight status as a reason to seek medical advice.…”

“…36,[38][39][40]45 Children perceive that those peers with obesity might experience some difficulties when exercising because of the excess weight. 39,40,45 Parents also consider physical activity a weight management strategy, 29,34,42,47 and some mentioned challenges while trying to perform physical activities with their children (e.g., children's dislike, costs, safety, or lack of time). 29,34,42,43,47,51 Teachers and health professionals at schools acknowledge the importance of physical activity in obesity prevention.…”

“…38,39 Some children reported that obesity represented a problem only when bullied at school or home. 32,[38][39][40]45 Some free codes at an individual level reveal the cruelty of how children with overweight and obesity can be treated and stigmatized by peers or even family members. 32,[38][39][40]45 Social isolation and stigma of children with overweight or obesity were clear in social [38][39][40] and academic situations.…”