Behavioral problems comparison between schoolchildren with obesity and natural schoolchildren aged from 6 to 11 years

  Objective   To compare the prevalence rates and the features of the behavioral problems between the children with obesity and the natural children aged from 6 to 11.

  Methods   111 objects in obesity group and 415 objects in control group from Anqing city and Tongling city in Anhui province were investigated with Achenbach child behavior checklist.

  Results   The prevalence rate of behavioral problems in obesity group was 36.94% (41/111), of boys and of girls were respectively 40.38% (21/52)and 33.90% (20/59).These were higher than 9.64% (40/415)(χ²=50.09, P < 0.01), 10.34% (21/203)(χ²=27.15, P < 0.01)and 8.96% (19/212)(χ²=23.30, P < 0.01)corresponding to the natural children group.There were no statistical significant differences between boys and girls in both the obesity group and the natural group(χ²=0.50, P > 0.05;χ²=0.23, P > 0.05).Besides social problem in boys and social withdraw and aggressive in girls, the prevalence rates of the behavioral problem factors in the obesity group were higher than those in the natural group.Those of 6 factors in common had no statistical significant differences between boys and girls in both the obesity group and the natural group.

  Conclusion   The schoolchildren with obesity came forth much more behavioral problems than the common schoolchil dren.The corresponding intervention strategy to prevent and control both obesity in children and the behavioral problems of the children should be made out as soon as possible.