Introduction: Excess weight in youth can have a profound impact on emotional and social functioning. This study investigated depression, social anxiety, and health-related quality of life in overweight Arkansas youth.
Methods: Sixty-three middle school students participated. Children completed the Child Depression Inventory, the Social Anxiety Scale, and the Pediatric Quality of Life. Height and weight were obtained.
Results: Overweight youth were similar to normal weight youth on all measures with no statistically or clinically significant differences.
Conclusions: Results suggest that in a community with a high rate of overweight persons (youth and adults), the impact of the youth's own weight status on their emotional state and quality of life is negligible.