Psychopathological indicators in teenagers with overweight and obesity: a binational study (Spain-Argentina)

SAL, J.; LACUNZA, A.; PAREDES, V.; COLLADO, L.; CABALLERO, V.; DIAZ, P.; SAN MAURO, I.

Granada

Congreso; 17th International Congress of Dietetics Granada Spain 2016; 2016

Fundación Española de Dietistas-Nutricionistas

There is still a controversy whether psychopathological disorders can negatively affect over weight and obesity while si them that nutritional excesses and associated social déficits and may precipitate psychopathological symptoms and future problems. The aim was to identify psychopathological indicators adolescent students with over weight and obesity, residents in Tucuman (Argentina) and Madrid (Spain).Methods: Comparative, transversal, incidental sampling. They participated 272 adolescents 11 to 16 years in schools in Tucuman-Argentina (n = 166) and Madrid-Spain (n = 106). Instruments: a) Eysenck Personality Questionnaire for children and adolescents (EPQ-J). Assesses three dimensions: neuroticism (emotionality), extraversion and psychoticism (emotional hardness). B) anthropometric Register: measured height, weight, and BMI was calculated to determine standardized by he WHO percentiles forage and gender distribution of over weight (> P85) and obesity (> P97) of the sample. Once calculated, they were classified into 2 study groups: trial (excess weight) and control group (normal weight).Results: 41.8% of Spanish adolescents are over weight or obese while 44% of their Argentine counterparts showed similar diagnosis. Concerning psychopathology, multivariate analysiss howed no statistical difference (Wilks´ Lambda = 0.979, F (3, 247) = 1.76, p = .155), however univariate analysis indicated that Spanish adolescents clinical group refer greater extraversion. The clinical group in both countries showed more anxiety and concern by irrelevant events, accompanied by negative emotions (t = -3.22, p = .001).Regarding the cross-cultural, wesee that the Argentine adolescents more likely related to aggressive behavior and emotional instability while their Spanish peers perceived themselves more interpersonal sensitivity.Conclusions: The data show that can not establishit sownpsychopathologicalprofile of adolescentoverweightorobese, although a trend of thisgroupwasobserved to pleaseothers in social situations. The adolescent group stands out with psychopathological risk, particularly antisocial tendencies and anxiety disorders