Obese kids more likely to be bullied

Obese children were more likely to be bullied than those with normal-weight regardless of other demographic, social and academic factors, a new study found.

The study published in Pediatrics showed obese children were almost twice as likely to be bullied than those peers with normal body mass index.

Julie C. Lumeng, MD, of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and colleagues said in their study report that parents of obese children view bullying as their top health concern and obese kids who are bullied experience more depression, anxiety and loneliness.

For the study, the researchers followed 821 children from ten study sites.  Participants' body mass indexes were measured in third, fifth and sixth grades.

Mothers, teachers and children completed questionnaires regarding bullying.  Social skills, academic performance, family income were also surveyed.

The researchers thought any association between obesity and being bullied may be eliminated or attenuated if the children was nonwhite or low socioeconomic status or having lower social or academic skills.

The study results however showed regardless of these factors, being obese increased the chance of being a victim of bullying.

This is not the first study linking being obese with being bullied.  

One study published in Oct 2009 in Journal of Adolescence reported that overweight or obese children were more likely to experience verbal and physical but not social bullying than their non-overweight peers.

Fox C.L. and Farrow C.V. from the University of Keele in the United Kingdom, authors of the report, wrote "global self-worth, self-esteem for physical appearance and body dissatisfaction each fully mediated the paths between weight status and being a victim of bullying."

JD