Mental Health and Childhood Obesity: What’s the Connection?

You want the healthiest life possible for your child. When your kiddo is struggling with excess weight, it can be tough to know how to help. At Suburban Healthcare Associates in Naperville, Plainfield, and Joliet, IL, our childhood obesity experts are here to help your child feel their best.

Here, we'll explore multiple mental health factors associated with childhood obesity and discuss the steps that you can take to help your child.

Mental Health Factors Associated with Childhood Obesity

Many of the factors that can lead to childhood obesity are psychological or environmental. Body image issues, chronic stress (due to the environment or mental health issues), low self-esteem, emotional eating, social isolation, hormonal imbalances, sleep disturbances, and excess screen time can all contribute to a child's risk of becoming obese. 

It's easy to see why simply suggesting a different nutrition plan isn't always a cure-all for childhood obesity. Often, obesity is a symptom of another condition. Working with both a pediatrician and a mental health professional can help your child get on track to feel healthy and strong. 

Treating Childhood Obesity

There are many strategies when it comes to helping children who experience obesity, including: 

• Professional support: Providing your child and the rest of your family with counseling, therapy, and support groups can help your household develop the skills necessary to improve their health. 
• Family involvement: When you and your family provide a supportive environment for your child, it may become easier for them to choose behaviors that lead to a healthy weight. 
• Healthy lifestyle promotion: Modeling balanced nutritional choices, beneficial exercise habits, stress management techniques, and adequate sleep can help your child see that it's also possible for them to make healthy choices.

Call Suburban Healthcare Associates in Naperville, Plainfield & Joliet, IL, for Childhood Obesity Concerns

If you're ready to help your child become their healthiest self, our team is here to assist you. Reach out to Suburban Healthcare Associates in Naperville, Plainfield, and Joliet, IL, to schedule a childhood obesity consultation at (331) 229-3210 (Naperville) or (815) 609-3627 (Plainfield and Joliet).