Overweight during childhood and internalizing symptoms in early adolescence: The mediating role of peer victimization and the desire to be thinner

- Child overweight development is associated with adolescent internalizing symptoms.
- Peer victimization and body dissatisfaction partly mediate this link.
- Mechanisms may differ depending in part on overweight developmental trajectory.

BackgroundOverweight is associated with depression and anxiety among adults. It is unclear whether this association begins in childhood. Overweight among children is associated with a higher risk of peer victimization, and may mediate an association between overweight and internalizing symptoms. No study has tested this hypothesis in a longitudinal population-based sample using developmental trajectories of overweight in middle childhood.MethodsData was drawn from the population-based Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development. A three-group trajectory model of overweight development (6-12 years) was previously identified using a semi-parametric group-based approach (n=1678): “early-onset” (11.0%), “late-onset” (16.6%) and “never overweight” (72.5%). Mediation models tested the link between overweight status and child-reported depression and anxiety at 13 years via peer victimization and body dissatisfaction.ResultsChildren on an early-onset overweight trajectory were at increased risk for both depression (B=.318, 95% CI=.141;.496) and anxiety (B=.262, 95% CI=.09;.44) at 13 years. These direct associations were mediated by peer victimization and subsequent desire to be thinner. Children on a late-onset childhood overweight trajectory were at increased risk for both depression (B=.332, 95% CI=.187;.477) and anxiety (B=.215; 95% CI=.072;.358) at 13 years, mediated by the desire to be thinner.LimitationsWe were unable to control for previous levels of body dissatisfaction. Our measure of peer victimization was not specific to weight-based teasing.ConclusionsOverweight during middle childhood increases risk of early adolescence internalizing symptoms. Peer victimization and body dissatisfaction are partly responsible for this link.