If the obesity epidemic is associated with many physical health concerns not enough worrying new survey shines light alarming mental health connection: teens who are overweight have higher risk of suicide attempts. Even the teenagers, who only believe themselves overweight--but not actually is, on the contrary, suicidal behavior more researchers found.
The research, which appears online in the journal, examined the health of young people for more than a high school high school students (BMI) body mass index (BMI) and the relationship between the risk of suicide attempts, and rapid response to soaring food prices, as well as the relationship between suicide attempts, and the higher risk was found in both cases.
Contrary to what the researchers had originally expected Association was so strong that the girls for boys leads to investigation by Monica said Swahn, PhD.
"This is a significant concern because of the increasing numbers of children and young people are becoming overweight and obese," said Professor Swahn, associate, Institute of Public Health, Georgia State University.
"Mental health problems and distress that some young people, which are overweight face ... will still be largely unaddressed, but gives" Swahn told the Daily News Central. "We usually need for mental health and prevention of views and to underestimate the scope and range of necessary services."
Reality vs. perception
Study participants responded to the survey question, "How can you describe your weight?" They can choose from five answers: very underweight, slightly underweight, overweight in the correct weight, slightly or very overweight, Swahn said. "Our analysis we looked at those who said they were somewhat or very overweight to determine their suicide attempts to increased risk. Our research shows that those who think that they were overweight were about 40% more likely to also report suicide attempts. "
Hatim Omar, MD, Chief of Medicine Division, Kentucky youth, said his own experience has led him to believe that the risk of obesity increase the risk of depression and suicide. "Teens are prone to development," he said, "the actual changes in their lives, or the weight of the detected problems, including depression and suicide, and to increase the risk."
To understand these organizations can assist in suicide prevention and the development of appropriate strategies according to the researchers.
"We cannot concentrate solely on prevention strategies, which are overweight and who are concerned about their weight, but we also do not need to include youth, who feel that they are overweight, although they may not be" Swahn said.
Societal pressures
"Young people feel very pressured to fit to fit the specific and limited to the ideals of beauty," he adds.
"Unfortunately, the society, as we are very active on the beauty and, in particular, the weight," he said. "Weight gain and weight is the pervasive problems faced by many of us. So, of course, these issues are linked to our prosperity and our mental health. Our findings as a sad aspect is that it is not only to those who are actually for the prevention of overweight, which have increased risk of suicide attempt, but also for those who consider themselves for the prevention of overweight, even if they are you really overweight, has increased the risk of suicide attempts. These observations should respond to body image and body ideals of social structures associated with a very strong influence. It is also important points out that our investigation revealed the overweight and suicide attempt was an important link between the boys and girls. "
Omar said that "this study adds another wake-up call, providers, parents, teachers and society screening of depression and suicide risk, the need for teenagers with the real effects of compromise or all behaviors."
Depression signs
Several common symptoms Swahn pointed to parents and caretakers can be find: persistent sad or irritable mood, once enjoyed activities; Psychomotor agitation or retardation or any damages whatsoever resulting from loss of interest; feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt; recurrent thoughts of death or suicide; difficulty concentrating; difficulty in sleeping car, or oversleeping; energy; a significant change in appetite or weight of the body.
"If five or more of these problems are more than two weeks, it is very likely that a person who has been diagnosed as depressed," Swahn said.
What should be the role of parents, teachers, health professionals and other appropriate feedback teens weight and body image? Whether nurturing health and fitness, on the one hand, and on the other hand, there is a conflict between self-esteem?
"It is very important that we find a balance between promoting healthy dietary habits and exercise the welfare and run quick fixes too loudly, weight and body to achieve unrealistic ideals," said Swahn. "All of us, parents, adults, educators and healthcare professionals have in promoting healthy development of young people to play an active role in support of healthy diet and exercise often.
External influences
"However, it is important to recognize the many external influences, which deal with our eating habits," he continued. "I've just read Dr. [David] Kessler of the new book, the End of Overeating, which is a fascinating account of how the food industry, advertising industry has been almost impossible for some people to monitor their food intake. The food is packaged and sold to manipulate a way to add sugar, salt and fat, which leads to most of us wants more proportions and weight gain has slowed down. This is particularly heavy influence on our children, who are growing and all of these messages, it is common ground between the exposed that we need to serve our children. "
A study on factors of future research, recommend and encourage the study and the actual weight and their role in the functioning of the suicidal.
"Not a growing empirical evidence, that there is a strong relationship," said Swahn, "and that the concern about weight can help in the event of an emergency, and suicidal behavior. Ideally, future research should disentangle these associations ... and also to examine the factors that can mitigate the risk that perceive themselves overweight. "
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