Psychological Effects of Teen Obesity | Free Article

Free Article - It only seems natural to consider the psychological effects of teen obesity and how it is affecting our youth. Not too long ago it would be unheard of to be having this discussion. The child obesity issue worldwide has received so much attention it seems appropriate to consider what is going on in their head. How is their weight issue effecting them emotionally? It's what we don't see in our children that is of most concern. We can easily see their day to day routines but what underlining psychological effects of teen obesity don't we see?. It has been perceived that young children who are obese will grow out of it or they are just carrying “baby fat”. In some cases this is true and they do grow out of it, but what if they don't. It's a known fact that kids can be mean and bully. Children who are teased about their weight are more apt to have poor body image, low self-esteem, and symptoms of depression. Everyone wants to have friends but sometimes the obese teen feels isolated and lonely. Their self esteem is low and they use food as their comfort zone, which is usually high in fat, sugar, and calories. The isolation makes them less active so exercise is compromised. Because of peer pressure the psychological effects of teen obesity affects their overall health which can lead to more serious medical problems. The teen years are all about growing up, being more independent, and socialization. Peer pressure in teenagers is a major issue whether they have a weight problem or not , which is why teasing obese teens can be psychologically devastating.