Shyness Can Increase Weight Issues In Children

Shyness can increase the risk of obesity, according to recent findings published in the American Journal of Public Health. Researchers at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health found that children with lower social skills were significantly more likely to overindulge and less likely to participate in regular physical activity.

"Children with low social competence may engage in unhealthy behavior to avoid social situations in which they expect to receive negative social feedback such as competitive sports; or they may engage in sedentary activities or unhealthy eating to reduce the stress they feel from negative social experiences," said researcher Solveig Cunningham, PhD, assistant professor in the Hubert Department of Global Health at Emory's Rollins School of Public Health, in a news release. "This could result in energy imbalance and weight gain if such responses take the form of solitary and sedentary activities or unhealthy comfort eating."

For the study, researchers analyzed data from 8,346 children who were followed from nine to 11. All were part of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-99.

During the study period, researchers collected information on the children's social competence, as well as genetic factors including height and weight. Social competence was assessed through the analyzation of children's answers to statements such as "I make friends easily," and "I am easy to like."

Findings revealed that lower social competence significantly increased the risk of weight gain and unhealthy eating behaviors. Furthermore, findings showed that low social competence in nine-year-olds was more likely to cause obesity in the same individuals by age 11.