Podcast Pt 1: Psychosocial Impact of Childhood Obesity

            According to the CDC, approximately 17% of children 2-19 years old struggle with obesity and that this generation of children are expected to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. Children and teens struggling with obesity often have lower self-esteem, relating to depression and lower quality of life, which has a lot to do with physical appearance. Body dissatisfaction can lead to binge eating, negative moods, anxiety, feelings of hopelessness, and ultimately lower self-esteem. So you can see here that this is a continuous cycle that feeds into one another, and is a very dangerous cycle that can lead to suicidal thoughts. As if their own thoughts weren’t bad enough, society and peers also view those with obesity as having behavioral issues, being less attractive/athletic, and possessing fewer leadership qualities because they are often seen as “weak” and lacking self-control and self-discipline. Those with obesity are often marginalized and deprived of occupations and opportunities by society.

            However, they are deserving of the same quality of care, and should have equal right and opportunity to participate and engage in meaningful occupations, just like everyone else. Rather than looking at diet and exercise, which is often the primary focus, OT practitioners might focus more on interventions on individual, societal and population levels, which may help contribute to the way obesity is viewed in today's society. Additionally, focusing more on their routines, via activity analysis, and the way they engage in everyday occupations might provide a different means of identifying types of behavioral changes and modifications. Encouraging participation and inclusion of children and teens can help decrease bullying and teasing. An OT practitioner’s job is to support our clients and encourage a successful outcome, no matter what their weight, background, or ethnicity is.