Associations Between Weight Status and Mental Well-Being in Childhood and Adolescence: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies.

Abstract

Obesity and poor mental well-being in childhood and adolescence are growing public health concerns with potential implications for a broad range of life outcomes. Understanding the longitudinal and potentially bidirectional relationship between weight status and mental well-being is crucial for developing effective interventions to support children and adolescents. This systematic review synthesizes evidence on the bidirectional relationship between weight status and indicators of mental well-being over time. Peer-reviewed studies published up to January 10, 2025 were identified through searches in PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science. Eligible studies included longitudinal designs assessing weight status and mental well-being in populations up to age 18 years. The Joanna Briggs Instrument assessed the risk of bias, and the findings were narratively summarized. The review included 33 longitudinal studies conducted between 1994 and 2022. We found that higher childhood weight was associated with subsequent low mental well-being, and an indication that poor mental well-being was associated with subsequent higher weight. However, there was a scarcity of longitudinal studies exploring the influence of mental well-being on subsequent weight status. Large heterogeneity in design and methods was found across the included studies. Findings indicated a bidirectional association between weight status and mental well-being, with stronger evidence supporting the impact of weight status on mental well-being than vice versa. Future research should prioritize longitudinal designs to better understand the influence of mental well-being on later weight development and explore underlying mechanisms.