Journal negates obesity and mental health direct link in schoolkids

Bhubaneswar: A recent study conducted among school-going adolescents in Odisha’s capital has revealed a nuanced picture of the relationship between obesity and mental health, indicating that while both remain significant concerns, they may not be directly linked as widely believed.Published in the ‘Journal of Education and Health Promotion’ in March this year, the study conducted by five researchers from AIIMS Bhubaneswar, surveyed 375 students from govt and private schools across Bhubaneswar using validated psychological tools and anthropometric measures.The findings show that 8.5% of the students were overweight and 10.1% were obese, while a striking 37.6% fell into the underweight category, highlighting a dual burden of malnutrition among adolescents in urban India.Dr Swayam P Parida, department of community medicine and family medicine, AIIMS Bhubaneswar, one of the authors of the study, said the study refuted the association between mental health and obesity among adolescents. “But there are other reasons like bullying, low self-esteem, hyperactivity, peer problem and emotional problems which affects the mental health of school kids,” she added.Mental health concerns were also significant. “About 29% of participants were at substantial risk of clinically significant mental health problems. Peer issues emerged as the most common challenge, affecting nearly one-third of students, followed by emotional difficulties (22%), hyperactivity (20%) and conduct problems (18%),” said the findings of the study.Parida said school teachers, schools and parents can play a very significant role to address issues that push the kids into mental health problems. “It is not possible to employ a counsellor at each school, but training teachers can help in this direction. Behavioural therapy can help students. Peers can cheer dull or inactive kids. Teachers can strongly discourage bullying of a student in their classes,” she added.However, contrary to prevailing assumptions, the study found no statistically significant association between body mass index (BMI) and mental health indicators among the adolescents surveyed. This finding challenges existing theories that link obesity directly with psychological distress and suggests that the relationship may be more complex and influenced by multiple factors, said the study.Researchers also observed that 21% of students reported low self-esteem, with higher proportions among girls compared to boys. A weak negative correlation between self-esteem and mental health scores indicates that students with better self-worth are less likely to face psychological difficulties, said the researchers in the study.The qualitative component of the study brought out key insights from teachers and parents. Educators reported that obese students often face teasing, social isolation and reduced classroom participation, which can affect confidence levels. At the same time, parents highlighted how stress and emotional issues can influence eating habits, sometimes leading to weight gain or loss, said the study.Both groups stressed the importance of creating supportive school and home environments. Measures such as promoting physical activity, encouraging healthy eating, addressing bullying and providing counselling services were identified as critical interventions, said the research paper.The study underscores the need for a holistic approach to adolescent health that goes beyond weight metrics. Researchers have called for larger, longitudinal studies to better understand the interplay between physical and mental well-being among young people.