Childhood Obesity and Mental Health: Unraveling the Bidirectional Pathways and Integrated Interventions

Childhood obesity has evolved beyond a metabolic concern into a complex public health crisis with profound psychological ramifications. Current clinical evidence suggests a sophisticated, bidirectional relationship between pediatric adiposity and mental health. While children with obesity are disproportionately affected by depression, anxiety, and diminished self-esteem—often exacerbated by weight-based victimization and systemic stigma—pre-existing psychological distress frequently serves as a driver for weight gain through emotional eating and disrupted circadian rhythms.

Beyond psychosocial factors, emerging neurobiological research indicates that chronic low-grade inflammation associated with excess adipose tissue may impair neuroplasticity and emotional regulation in the developing brain. Furthermore, the modern "obesogenic" environment, characterized by digital sedentary behaviors and the marketing of ultra-processed foods, simultaneously triggers metabolic dysfunction and psychological fatigue. Despite the high co-occurrence of these conditions, pediatric care often remains fragmented, addressing physical and mental health in silos. To improve long-term health trajectories, it is imperative to investigate the shared biological pathways, the role of the gut-brain axis, and the impact of socioeconomic determinants on this dual burden. This Research Topic seeks to bridge the gap between pediatric endocrinology, psychiatry, and behavioral science.

Goal

The primary goal of this Research Topic is to consolidate multidisciplinary research that elucidates the intricate mechanisms linking childhood obesity with mental health disorders. We aim to move beyond descriptive correlations to explore causal pathways, including neuroendocrine regulation, inflammatory markers, and socio-environmental stressors. By gathering high-quality evidence from longitudinal cohorts, clinical trials, and systematic reviews, this collection seeks to identify early biomarkers and modifiable risk factors for psychological distress in children with obesity. Ultimately, the purpose is to provide clinicians and policymakers with a robust evidence base to develop holistic, integrated intervention models that simultaneously target metabolic health and psychological well-being, thereby reducing the cumulative disease burden from childhood into adulthood.

Scope and Information for Authors

We welcome Original Research, Systematic Reviews, Meta-analyses, and Perspective articles that provide novel insights into the obesity-mental health nexus. We are particularly interested in submissions that address the following specific themes:

• Neurobiological Mechanisms: The role of the gut-brain axis, neuroinflammation, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation in linking obesity to mood disorders.
• Psychosocial Dynamics: The impact of weight-based bullying, social exclusion, and internalized stigma on the mental health and treatment adherence of pediatric patients.
• Digital Health and Lifestyle: The influence of social media use, screen time, and digital food marketing on the co-development of adiposity and anxiety/depression.
• Integrated Interventions: Evaluation of multidisciplinary treatment models combining nutritional support, physical activity, and psychological therapies (e.g., CBT or mindfulness).
• Family and Environmental Factors: The role of parental mental health, household food insecurity, and family dynamics in the physical and emotional development of the child.
• Life-course Transitions: Longitudinal studies examining how childhood obesity-related psychological distress predicts mental health outcomes in adolescence and young adulthood.
• Gender and Ethnic Disparities: Differences in the manifestation and severity of psychological comorbidities among diverse pediatric populations with obesity.
• Greater emphasis on social determinants of health, including socioeconomic inequalities, food environments, and access to healthcare.
• The role of sleep health and circadian rhythm disruption as potential mediators between obesity and mental health outcomes.
• School-based and community-based prevention strategies, in addition to clinical multidisciplinary interventions.
• The influence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and chronic stress on both obesity and psychological well-being.
• Emerging evidence regarding novel obesity treatments in pediatric populations and their impact on quality of life and mental health.
• Early-life prevention and health promotion approaches.