Adverse childhood experiences and childhood obesity: a path analysis approach

ABSTRACT

This study evaluated physical activity/mental health mediators and psychosocial moderators between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) with childhood obesity. Path analysis was used to analyze a sample of 42,193 children aged 10–17 years from the 2011–2012 National Survey of Children’s Health. Childhood obesity was associated with greater ACEs, but such association was not mediated by physical activity and mental health, or moderated by psychosocial factors. However, our data suggested that positive neighborhood environments are associated with greater physical activity and fewer mental health problems. This study illuminates some complicated associations among childhood obesity and children with ACEs.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Memphis Research Consortium pilot grant.