Children who are overweight are more likely to develop mental health issues in young adulthood, a new study has warned.
Researchers from the University of Cambridge have discovered a link between physical changes in childhood and mental illness in adulthood.
Worryingly, their findings suggest that children with a high body mass index (BMI) are more likely to develop depression and psychosis.
The team hopes the findings could help pave the way for better preventative measures and the potential for new treatment targets.
Children who are overweight are more likely to develop mental health issues in young adulthood, a new study has warned (stock image)
Dr Benjamin Perry from Cambridge’s Department of Psychiatry, and first author of the study, said: ‘The general assumption in the past has been that some people with psychosis and depression might be more likely to have a poor diet and lower levels of physical exercise, so any adverse physical health problems are a result of the mental disorder, or the treatment for it.
‘In essence, the received wisdom is that the mental disorder comes first.
‘But we’ve found that this isn’t necessarily the case, and for some individuals, it may be the other way around, suggesting that physical health problems detectable from childhood might be risk factors for adult psychosis and depression.’
In the study, the team used a sample of over 10,000 people to study how insulin levels and BMI in childhood could link to mental health problems in young adulthood.
The results showed that about 75 per cent of the participants had normal insulin levels, between 15 per cent and 18 per cent had insulin levels which gradually increased over adolescence, and three per cent had high insulin levels.
Worryingly, this three per cent was found to be at higher risk of psychosis in adulthood.
Meanwhile, children with an increase in BMI around the onset in puberty were found to be at higher risk of developing depression – particularly in girls.
Surprisingly, children who had a persistently high BMI through childhood did not have a significantly increased risk of depression.
The researchers recommend that doctors should carry out physical assessments on young people, so that any early signs of psychosis or depression can be diagnosed and treated early (stock image)
This suggests that other factors around the age of puberty could be at play, according to the team.
Based on the findings, the researchers recommend that doctors should carry out physical assessments on young people, so that any early signs of psychosis or depression can be diagnosed and treated early.
Dr Perry added: ‘These findings are an important reminder that all young people presenting with mental health problems should be offered a full and comprehensive assessment of their physical health in tandem with their mental health.
‘Intervening early is the best way to reduce the mortality gap sadly faced by people with mental disorders like depression and psychosis.
‘The next step will be to work out exactly why persistently high insulin levels from childhood increase the risk of psychosis in adulthood, and why increases in BMI around the age of puberty increase the risk of depression in adulthood.
‘Doing so could pave the way for better preventative measures and the potential for new treatment targets.’
Source: Daily Mail
