Overweight and obesity among maltreated young adolescents

Abstract

Purpose (1) To identify and compare rates of body mass index (BMI) ≥ 85% (overweight/obesity) and BMI ≥ 95% (obesity) in maltreated versus comparison young adolescents; (2) To determine whether demographic/psychological characteristics are related to high BMI; (3) To determine whether type of maltreatment is related to high BMI in maltreated young adolescents. Methods We compared a sample of maltreated young adolescents to a comparison sample of adolescents from the same neighborhood. The maltreated sample (N=303) of young adolescents (ages 9-12) came from referrals from the county child welfare department in Los Angeles, CA from new cases of maltreatment opened in specified zip codes. A comparison sample (N=151) was recruited from the same zip codes. The total sample (both maltreated and comparison) was 77% Black or Hispanic and 23% White or biracial with 53% males and 47% females. A stepwise logistic regression was used to examine predictors of high BMI with demographic/psychological covariates and maltreatment group. The maltreated young adolescents were selected and the logistic model included all covariates as well as an interaction between gender and each maltreatment type (neglect, sexual, and physical abuse). Results Maltreated young adolescents were similar to comparison adolescents in obesity prevalence (27.1% and 34.4%, respectively), although comparison young adolescents were 1.7 times more likely to have overweight/obesity than the maltreated young adolescents (95% CI = 1.13-2.76). No demographic variables predicted high BMI. For the comparison young adolescents, depression slightly increased the odds of overweight/obesity (OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.01-1.15). Being neglected reduced the odds of being in the overweight/obesity and obesity group when combining genders. For females, but not males, sexual and physical abuse slightly reduced the odds of obesity. Conclusions Both the maltreated and comparison young adolescents had a high prevalence of overweight and obesity, which puts them at risk for health problems. Maltreatment reduced the odds of having a high BMI for adolescents in this study, which is opposite to research in adults. Further exploration of the mechanism of how maltreatment is related to weight as adolescents age, with specific emphasis on differences between genders, is needed.

Stress-induced alterations in estradiol sensitivity increase risk for obesity in women

“…Taken together, these data from female macaques suggest that chronic psychosocial stress exposure alters sensitivity to E2 thereby increasing risk for adverse health outcomes in females. It is also important to study these questions throughout development and adulthood, as stress-induced emotional eating occurs in girls [176–178], and results in higher rates of obesity [179–182], particularly in girls [176–178]. Accounting for sex and gonadal hormones in our examination of stress axis function in obesity will offer clarity on the complex relationship, as well as yield novel targets for alleviating the adverse consequences of obesity specifically in females.…”

Understanding the control of ingestive behavior in primates

“…For example, results from rodents clearly show that prenatal stress increases risk for obesity later in life (Tamashiro et al, 2009). Although data from humans are limited, emotional eating in children is associated with reports of stress (Mazur et al, 2011) and children from families reporting more distress have higher rates of obesity (Anderson et al, 2012; Anderson and Whitaker, 2011; Gundersen et al, 2011; Koch et al, 2008; Moens et al, 2009), particularly for girls (Noll et al, 2007; Schneiderman et al, 2012; Suglia et al, 2012). Together, these data support the hypothesis that exposure to social stress during development may be an aggravating factor for DIO during childhood (Evans et al, 2012).…”

Family violence and body mass index among adolescents enrolled in the Bolsa Família Program and treated at a primary care clinic

“…The results are conflicting as to the type of disorder -excess weight 15,37 and underweight 38,39 -and in relation to gender 15,38 , type of abuse 39 , and severity of trauma 37 .…”

“…Schneiderman et al 38 investigated whether violence is predictive of obesity in adolescents and observed that individuals in early adolescence with a history of abuse showed higher odds of obesity when compared to their non-abused peers. Considering gender in this association, they noted that only adolescent girls that were victims of sexual and physical abuse showed significantly lower odds of obesity as compared to non-abused girls.…”