[Childhood obesity and its association with the feeling of unhappiness and low levels of self-esteem in children of public schools]. / La obesidad infantil y su asociación con el sentimiento de infelicidad y bajos niveles de autoestima en niños de centros educativos públicos.

INTRODUCTION: overweight children are at increased risk for psychosocial disorders. OBJECTIVE: the purpose of this research was to relate the condition of overweight and obesity to the levels of self-esteem and happiness in schoolchildren of public schools. METHODS: a total of 364 schoolchildren (180 boys and 184 girls) were enrolled between eleven and 13 years old (12.44 ± 1.14 years old). Anthropometric measurements were performed and the levels of self-esteem and happiness were evaluated through the School Self-Esteem Test (APT). RESULS: school self-esteem was significantly higher in boys (p < 0.001); 55.49% (n = 204) of the students evaluated were overweight. Overweight and obese subjects had lower levels of self-esteem compared to normal weight children (p = 0.032). In addition, 43 students had very low self-esteem, and a relationship between very low and low self-esteem levels (n = 119) and the overweight and obesity was observed (p = 0.033). In relation to the question "Am I a happy person?", a greater proportion of students answered positively (n = 296). The negative response to the question was associated with weight excess (p = 0.042). CONCLUSION: overweight and obesity were related to low levels of self-esteem and happiness in schoolchildren. These results are alarming since self-esteem is one's appreciation of oneself and happiness is an index of subjective personal well-being and is a topic that concerns families and the entire education system.

La obesidad infantil y su asociación con el sentimiento de infelicidad y bajos niveles de autoestima en niños de centros educativos públicos / Childhood obesity and its association with the feeling of unhappiness and low levels of self-esteem in children of public schools

Introducción: los niños con exceso de peso corren mayor riesgo de sufrir alteraciones psicosociales. Objetivo: el propósito de esta investigación fue relacionar la condición de sobrepeso y obesidad con los niveles de autoestima y felicidad en escolares de centros educativos públicos. Métodos: participaron 364 escolares (180 niños y 184 niñas) de entre once y 13 años de edad (12,44 ± 1,14 años de edad). Se realizaron mediciones antropométricas y se evaluaron los niveles de autoestima y felicidad a través del Test de Autoestima Escolar (TAE).Resultados: la autoestima escolar fue significativamente mayor en los niños (p < 0,001). El 55,49% (n = 204) de los escolares evaluados presentó exceso de peso. Los sujetos con sobrepeso y obesidad presentaron menores niveles de autoestima en comparación con los normopeso (p = 0,032); además, 43 escolares presentaron muy baja autoestima, existiendo relación entre los niveles de muy baja y baja autoestima (n = 119) y la condición de sobrepeso y obesidad (p = 0,033). En relación a la pregunta "¿soy una persona feliz?", una mayor proporción de escolares respondió positivamente (n = 296). La respuesta negativa a la pregunta se asoció con la presencia de exceso de peso (p = 0,042). Conclusión: la condición de sobrepeso y obesidad se relacionó con bajos niveles de autoestima y de felicidad en escolares. Estos resultados son alarmantes, ya que la autoestima es el aprecio que uno tiene de sí mismo y la felicidad es un índice del bienestar personal subjetivo, y es un tema que concierne a las familias y a todo el sistema educativo

Introduction: overweight children are at increased risk for psychosocial disorders. Objective: the purpose of this research was to relate the condition of overweight and obesity to the levels of self-esteem and happiness in schoolchildren of public schools. Methods: a total of 364 schoolchildren (180 boys and 184 girls) were enrolled between eleven and 13 years old (12.44 ± 1.14 years old). Anthropometric measurements were performed and the levels of self-esteem and happiness were evaluated through the School Self-Esteem Test (APT). Results: school self-esteem was significantly higher in boys (p < 0.001); 55.49% (n = 204) of the students evaluated were overweight. Overweight and obese subjects had lower levels of self-esteem compared to normal weight children (p = 0.032). In addition, 43 students had very low self-esteem, and a relationship between very low and low self-esteem levels (n = 119) and the overweight and obesity was observed (p = 0.033). In relation to the question "Am I a happy person?", a greater proportion of students answered positively (n = 296). The negative response to the question was associated with weight excess (p = 0.042). Conclusion: overweight and obesity were related to low levels of self-esteem and happiness in schoolchildren. These results are alarming since self-esteem is one’s appreciation of oneself and happiness is an index of subjective personal well-being and is a topic that concerns families and the entire education system