In this study we aim at investigating how obese school children react to their condition. Thus, an anthropomorphic evaluation of 622 children, six to eleven years of age, attending public schools in the interior of the State of Minas Gerais, was carried out. Sixty obese children were identified and nineteen of them participated in the research study. Data were collected in five psychopedagogical workshops where Stress Scale for Children was administered. Results indicate that families find it difficult to deal with their children's obesity. The researchers also found contradictory emotions, such as anger or sadness, demonstrated by the children in relation to their weight. There are also indications that overweight children were frequently bullied, in particular in school. Stress indicators suggest that twenty-one percent of the children surveyed suffered from stress. At present, generalizations cannot be made from the current study. However, it suggests the need for a multi-professional approach in dealing with childhood obesity.
Obesity; stress; psychological testing