emotional problems

For many overweight children and teens, their physical health and well-being is the least of their problems. Their real suffering comes when they contend with name-calling, rejection by peers, taunting, and other poor treatment they receive from other children at school and in the community. And for many, it's not only how others think of them, but how they think of themselves. A sizable percentage of overweight kids - particularly girls - are clinically depressed as a result of a preoccupation with being overweight.