Childhood Obesity and Psychosocial Wellbeing: A Case Study in University and Achimota Basic Schools, Accra-Ghana

Abstract

Over the past two decades, the rising rate of obesity in children has become a major global health concern because childhood obesity is not only associated with a higher risk of physical morbidity, but it also increases the risk of weight-related psychosocial complications in children. However, available evidence on the association between obesity and psychosocial wellbeing, especially within the context of developing countries, is scarce. In total, 452 children participated in this study. This study aimed at examining the effect of childhood obesity on the psychological and social wellbeing of children in the University and Achimota Basic Schools in Accra using mixed methods. To determine the prevalence of child obesity in both schools, frequencies, means and percentages of estimated Body Mass Indexes from each respondent was measured. Bivariate analysis was conducted using cross tabulation analyses. Binary logistic regression was conducted to test for the probability of a child having either good or bad psychosocial outcome. The results suggest that the overall prevalence of obesity in both schools was high (8.8%). Children who were overweight were 0.381 times as likely as normal weight children to develop poor psychosocial challenges as compared to normal weight children. Similarly, obese children were 0.418 as likely as normal weight children to develop poor psychosocial outcomes. Again, children who perceived themselves to be plump or very plump were 2.057 times as likely as children who perceived themselves as slim to develop poor psychosocial outcomes. More so, children who belong to the older age group were 1.612 times as likely as children who belong to the younger age group, to be susceptible to poor psychosocial challenges. Lastly, children who attended University of Ghana Basic School were 0.608 as likely as those in Achimota Basic School to develop poor psychosocial outcomes. With regards to the qualitative analysis, 20 children were purposively selected and interviewed. It emerged that obese children experienced psychosocial distress such as name calling, poor academic performance, and social isolation among others. The study recommended that since obesity was high in both schools there was the need for the two schools to strengthen physical education and nutrition-related courses in the curriculum of the students. It was also important to teach children coping skills to overcome psychological stresses created by peers both at home and in school.