Self-image, self-esteem and depression in children and adolescents with and without obesity

Abstract

Introduction:In Mexico, the prevalence of childhood obesity is 35%, and it continues to increase. Objective: To determine the correlation between self-image, self-esteem and depression in children aged 8 to 14 years with and without obesity. Methods: Cross-sectional, comparative study of 295 children: 116 with overweight/obesity (group 1) and 179 with normal weight (group 2). Body mass index, scholarship, school achievement, school problems, socioeconomic status, self-image (current, desired), satisfaction, self-esteem and presence of depression were recorded. Descriptive statistics, Spearman's rho and Mann-Whitney's U-test were used; a p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Results:In group 1, 53.4% perceived themselves as with normal weight, and in 77.6%, the desired self-image was normal weight; 67.2% wanted to be slimmer; in 53.4%, self-esteem was high, and 75.9% had no depression. In group 2, current self-image was normal weight in 79.3%, and the desired self-image was normal weight in 85.5%; 35.2% wanted to be slimmer; self-esteem was high in 49.7% and 77.1% had no depression. Significant correlations were observed for self-esteem-depression (r = 0.228) and self-esteem-socioeconomic status (r = 0.130). Conclusions: Current self-image and body satisfaction are different with and without obesity. The relationship between self-esteem and depressive symptoms begins at school age.

Epidemiological Overview of Overweight and Obesity Related to Eating Habits, Physical Activity and the Concurrent Presence of Depression and Anxiety in Adolescents from High Schools in Mexico City: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Excess body fat in adolescents may cause a variety of clinical and psychosocial conditions since those with obesity could suffer discrimination, low self-esteem and depression [46]. In the study by Sánchez et al [47], an association between self-image, self-esteem, depression and the presence of obesity in Mexican schoolchildren and adolescents has been shown. The World Health Organization (WHO) in 2021 [48] estimated that one in seven adolescents aged 10 to 19 years (14%) worldwide suffers from a mental disorder, and that depression, anxiety and behavioral disorders are among the leading causes of illness and disability between adolescents, and yet, these illnesses remain largely unrecognized and untreated.…”

“…Excess body fat in adolescents may cause a variety of clinical and psychosocial conditions since those with obesity could suffer discrimination, low self-esteem and depression [ 46 ]. In the study by Sánchez et al [ 47 ], an association between self-image, self-esteem, depression and the presence of obesity in Mexican schoolchildren and adolescents has been shown.…”

Perceção da Imagem Corporal por Crianças e Cuidadores - Um Instrumento de Mudança?

“…Este último grupo de crianças deve ser alvo de preocupação dos profissionais de saúde por eventual risco de perturbação da imagem corporal. 14 As crianças que subestimam o peso tendo EP ou obesidade (27,48%) demonstram não ter correta autoperceção da sua imagem, o que pode constituir um problema na medida em que a inexistência de consciência para o problema poderá dificultar a implementação de medidas de controlo de peso. Não obstante, ao identificar estas crianças encontramos uma oportunidade para atuar também neste aspeto.…”

School climate and academic burnout in medical students: a moderated mediation model of collective self-esteem and psychological capital

“…Therefore, the influence of school climate on medical student burnout may be mediated by collective self-esteem. Self-esteem, as an important component of the ego system, includes both individual and collective self-esteem [ 23 ] and is an important protective resource for mental health [ 24 ]. The former is the overall positive evaluation and acceptance of individuals to themselves [ 25 , 26 ], while the latter is the individual’s evaluation and perception of the value of the group he or she belongs to, which emphasizes a sense of collective value, respect and belonging [ 27 ].…”