Mental health issues in childhood linked to weight gain in teens, which is linked to depression

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2024-06-04 01:00

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US scientists looked at data for more than 5,000 US kids aged between nine and 11 and found lower scores in tests of thinking abilities and having a mental illness were linked with greater weight gain as children entered adolescence over the following two years, and having a higher body mass index (BMI) at the start of the study was linked to experiencing more depressive symptoms over the following two years. The findings highlight the complex interrelationship between mental and physical health in kids, and the researchers say future research should look into the biological, psychological and social links between mental health and weight gain. They also suggest doctors should be on the lookout for depression among children who are overweight or obese, so they can access help early.

Media release

From: JAMA

Weight Indices, Cognition, and Mental Health From Childhood to Early Adolescence

About The Study: Lower cognitive performance and greater psychopathology at baseline were associated with increased weight gain as children entered adolescence, and higher baseline body mass index was associated with more depressive symptoms over time. These longitudinal findings highlight the importance of cognitive and mental health to children’s healthy weight development and suggest that clinicians should monitor children with overweight or obesity for increased depression problems.

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Journal/
conference: JAMA Pediatrics

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: Washington University, USA

Funder: Mr Li was supported by funding from the McDonnell Center for Systems Neuroscience atWashington University School of Medicine in St Louis (allocated to Dr Hershey for salary coverage forMr Li). Dr Ray was supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the NIH under award KL2TR002346 and a National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases K01 Career Development Award 1K01DK131339. Ms Gu was supported by the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology summer research program. The ABCD Study is supported by grants U01DA041048, U01DA050989, U01DA051016, U01DA041022, U01DA051018, U01DA051037, U01DA050987, U01DA041174, U01DA041106, U01DA041117, U01DA041028, U01DA041134, U01DA050988, U01DA051039, U01DA041156, U01DA041025, U01DA041120, U01DA051038, U01DA041148, U01DA041093, U01DA041089, U24DA041123, and U24DA041147 from the NIH and federal partners. A full list of supporters is available on the ABCD Study website (https://abcdstudy.org/ about/federal-partners).

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