[1] Children who are obese are at a greater risk for social and psychological problems as well, such as peer victimization, increased levels of aggression, and low self-esteem.
Many environmental and social factors have been shown to correlate with childhood obesity, and researchers are attempting to use this knowledge to help prevent and treat the condition.
This supports the theory that watching too much television is “one of the most easily modifiable causes of obesity among children.”[2] Consequentially, there has been an increase in children and adolescents’ exposure to food advertisements.
They also specified the ways in which television viewing may affect weight in children and adolescents: severe decreases in physical activity and an increase in the desire for and consumption of unhealthy foods.
[7] While there are many studies that seek to prove that television plays a large role in causing childhood obesity, no concrete evidence can be found to support this claim.
[2] There are numerous factors that contribute to a child's weight and eating habits; while media can have a significant impact on children and their food choices, their parents and friends may play an even more important role in determining childhood obesity.
Children who grow accustomed to relying on external hunger cues and thus eating more than their bodies need because are more likely to gain excess weight.
There is evidence that nonstandard maternal work schedules, meaning those that fall at least partially outside the “traditional” range of 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on Monday through Friday, are correlated with higher child BMIs.
[9] Maternal depressive symptoms may be related to children's nutrition and physical activity, which in turn help determine weight status.
[15] However, obese children do not vary significantly in ratings of scholastic competence,[14] and objective measures show no effect on academic performance (controlling for other factors).
It also appears that obese African-American and Hispanic girls experience less bullying than European-Americans,[18] which reflects the patterns of mental health as well as the differences in cultural attitudes about thinness.
[15] Time spent engaged with screen media positively correlates with depression, and physical activity correlates with number of friendships;[15][18] this suggests that certain obesity-promoting behaviors interfere with peer interaction: sedentary activities remove obese children from their peer group and limit opportunities to grow social networks.
[15] Friendship buffers against both loneliness and the effects of bullying: self-disclosure to a close friend may help the victim cope with his/her experiences without rumination or internalization of problems.
It appears that addressing the psychology of obesity and modifying the family environment are important factors in regaining and maintaining a healthy weight.
A recent survey of the literature revealed six techniques that proved effective: providing information on behavior specific to the individual (e.g., “You should not eat so much sugar, like when you have candy after school.”), environmental restructuring, prompt practice, identification of a role model, stress management and emotional control training, and general communication skills training.16 While these techniques are useful, further research is needed to understand how they can best be incorporated into programs for at-risk or obese children.
In a similar vein, providing reward contingent on successful behavior and facilitating social comparison were not effective in preventing childhood obesity.
[21] Further studies have demonstrated immense influence of the home environment as a result of parental (often maternal) education and guidance, with less success in school settings.