Effect of physical training on anxiety and self-esteem of obese adolescents

Abstract

The decrease in physical activities plays an important role in the increased prevalence of obesity. Obese adolescents appear to experience greater dissatisfaction with their body image and be more likely to have psychological disorders. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of a training program on anxiety and self-esteem among adolescents obese and non obese. Thus, two groups of children (obese and non obese) have followed a training program for 12 weeks. Levels of anxiety and self-esteem were evaluated before and after the training program by a questionnaire of self-esteem and state anxiety inventory. Our results showed that obese subjects are characterized by low self-esteem (p <0.001) and high anxiety (p <0.001) compared to non-obese subjects. However, after the training program, there is no significant difference between obese and non-obese for the self-esteem (p = 0.103), but for the anxiety, the obese are more anxious than the non-obese (p <0.001). Our results also showed an improvement in self-esteem (+17.9% ; p <0.001) and decreased anxiety (-16.3% ; p <0.001) after the training program in obese subjects. Our study shows the importance of physical activities for obese adolescents in their identity development and emotional control. In addition, adequate nutrition associated with a moderate intensity sport is necessary for weight control.

Prenatal Exposure to Gestational Diabetes Mellitus is Associated with Mental Health Outcomes and Physical Activity has a Modifying Role

“…Our ndings indicate that child physical activity has a modifying role in the association between prenatal exposure to GDM and mental health outcomes and this was independent of maternal race and ethnicity. In keeping with these ndings, other studies have shown that physical activity is particularly bene cial for mental health outcomes among vulnerable youth(Baccouche et al, 2013;Sibold et al, 2020;Sund et al, 2011). For example, in a study of 13,583 high school students, physical activity modi ed the relationship between depressive symptoms and history of being bullied(J et al, 2015).…”

“…Randomized clinical trials during childhood have shown that aerobic exercise is effective in reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms (Baccouche et al, 2013;Crews et al, 2004;Fidelix et al, 2019;Melnyk et al, 2009). Further, longitudinal studies provide additional support that engaging in physical activity during childhood protects against poor mental health outcomes in adolescence (Hamer et al, 2020;Kandola et al, 2020;Sund et al, 2011).…”