Childhood obesity trajectories and adolescent mental health: A UK cohort study
Authors' conclusion
Obesity development or persistence from ages 7 to 17 are associated with worsening mental health. If childhood obesity is reversed, there appears to be no evidence of a negative association between previous obesity and mental health at age 17.
Study context
- Population
- Children in the UK Millennium Cohort Study followed from age 7 to 177,246 in obesity-episode analysis
- Participants
- 8,306 children
- Exposure
- Obesity trajectories from age 7 to 17 vs never developing obesity
- Outcome
- Caregiver and self-reported internalising and externalising symptoms
- Follow-up
- Age 17
Methodological detailspopulation-based, UK Millennium Cohort Study, linear regression
- Population-based
- UK Millennium Cohort Study
- Linear regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Β (internalising symptoms)
1.01
95% CI 0.71–1.32
Development
Β (internalising symptoms)
1.18
95% CI 0.74–1.61
Persistence
Β (externalising symptoms)
0.52
95% CI 0.25–0.80
Development
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Worsening (increase in scores) of symptoms between ages 7 and 17Development vs Never | β (internalising symptoms change) 0.87 (95% CI 0.57–1.17) |
| Worsening (increase in scores) of symptoms between ages 7 and 17Persistence vs Never | β (internalising symptoms change) 0.86 (95% CI 0.56–1.26) |
| Worsening (increase in scores) of symptoms between ages 7 and 17Development vs Never | β (externalising symptoms change) 0.30 (95% CI 0.07–0.53) |
Multiple past obesity episodes (ages 7, 11 and 14)
- Multiple past obesity episodes not associated with worsening mental health independent of follow-up weight status
Original publication
Childhood obesity trajectories and adolescent mental health: A UK cohort study. Pediatr Obes. Published 30 January 2025. doi:10.
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