Obesity makes children feel inferior to their normal weight peers...

In Singapore researchers have shown that when children are obese it can have a detrimental effect on how well they do at school from an academic perspective. The research undertaken by the National Heart Foundation in collaboration with the National Institute of Education of Singapore saw a direct correlation between obesity and academic performance. Singapore is one country that is experiencing sudden and dramatic increases in the amount of obese children. Statistics show that the number of children who are obese or overweight in Singapore has grown by double in the last 30 years.

The researchers said that the reason why these overweight children do not do so well in school is not because their brains are not as powerful and competent as normal weight children but just that obesity can lead to feelings of low self esteem and low confidence which affects the ability of the child to do well at school.

Other research that we have seen at Ukmedix News has noted that children who are encouraged and praised about their academic work are far more likely to be academically successful. The simple fact that obesity makes children feel inferior and different from their normal weight peers undermines the school work that they do, and the researchers suggested that parents of obese children would need to make a special effort to praise their children in order to make them perform well in their studies.

The psychological effects of obesity can stay with children right through into their adult years and form negative character traits that are extremely difficult to shake off. Obese children are very likely to be bullied and teased about their weight at school and this can further undermine their academic performance. Obese children also are less likely to participate in confidence building team sports like football and rugby which are known to make children feel good about themselves.