Childhood obesity has high rates of occurrence and in Brazil has acquired great importance in the area of health, mainly due to the consequences to children lives, bringing physical, social, economical and psychological consequences. In this article we emphasize depression, anxiety and social competence among the multiple factors related to childhood obesity. We discuss studies that present these factors as cause or consequence of childhood obesity, despite the fact that there is no consensus in the area. However the simultaneous occurrence of depression, anxiety and deficits in social competence and childhood obesity shows the importance of this matter. The spread of this knowledge and new research in the area will improve the care of these patients.
childhood obesity; depression; anxiety; social competence