Child and Adolescent Affective and Behavioral Dist

Authors: Heather H McClure J Mark Eddy Jean M Kjellstrand J Josh Snodgrass Charles R Martinez

Publish Date: 2012/03/27

Volume: 43, Issue: 6, Pages: 837-854

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Abstract

Obesity rates throughout the world have risen rapidly in recent decades and are now a leading cause of morbidity and mortality Several studies indicate that behavioral and affective distress in childhood may be linked to elevated adult body mass index BMI The present study utilizes data from a 20year longitudinal study to examine the relations between symptoms of conduct disorder attentiondeficit/hyperactivity disorder and depression during late childhood and midadolescence and BMI during emerging adulthood Data were analyzed using multiple regression Results suggest that childhood and adolescent problems may influence adult BMI through direct impacts on adolescent overweight a condition which then persists into adulthoodThe authors thank the study participants and their parents in the Bethel Eugene 4J and Springfield Public School districts and the principals and teachers in the participating schools Special thanks to the many OSLC scientists and staff members who contributed to the LIFT study over the years and particularly to John B Reid for his leadership and mentoring to Alice Holmes Theresa Mayne and Becky Fetrow for their exemplary work on project coordination over the years to Kathy Jordan for her work on data management and analyses and to Paulina Nowicka and D Molloy Wilson for their valuable input on the research topic and analyses Work on this project was supported by a research and development award from the Oregon Social Learning Center Scientist Council and award numbers R01 MH054248 from the National Institute of Mental Health National Institutes of Health NIH and awards R01 HD054880 and ARRA R01 HD054880 S1 from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development NIH

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