| IntroductionObesity is the most common health | | | | coronary heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. |
| problem facing children today. It has been suggested | | | | However, there has been increasing research into the |
| that obese children have increased problems with | | | | role of exercise in improving mental well-being, including |
| self-esteem and depression when compared to the | | | | global self-esteem.Sufficient evidence now exists for |
| normal pediatric population. Research in exercise and | | | | the effectiveness of exercise in the treatment of |
| depression is persuasively showing how exercise may | | | | clinical depression and low self-esteem. Additionally, |
| be elemental in treating low self-esteem. Moderate | | | | exercise has a moderate reducing effect on state and |
| exercise seems to be the most effective intensity in | | | | trait anxiety and can improve physical self-perceptions |
| reducing depression and increasing levels of | | | | and in some cases, global self-esteem. There is also |
| self-esteem. This literature review will illustrate what | | | | good evidence that aerobic and resistance exercise |
| other researchers have found and concluded in a.) | | | | (weight training) enhances mood states, and weaker |
| finding a relationship between self-esteem and obesity, | | | | evidence that exercise can improve cognitive function |
| b.) the effects of exercise on self-esteem, c.) studies | | | | (Fox, 1999).One study which supports the |
| on motivation among children, and d.) the need for | | | | fundamentals of CHAMP is revealed in the Journal of |
| more research.Finding A RelationshipIn order to | | | | Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. In the study, 37 |
| establish a relationship between obesity and | | | | males and 28 females participated in a 10-week |
| self-esteem, a Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale was | | | | exercise program. Participants were selected from |
| administered to 550 14 and 16 year old girls. | | | | existing classes forming weight training, aerobic |
| Self-esteem scores were categorized by weight and | | | | exercise, and activity control group. Results revealed |
| weight by height. Scores on the Quetelet Index for | | | | change in physical self-perception, strength, and body |
| Obesity were correlated with self-esteem scores. | | | | composition. Improvements in physical self-perceptions |
| Mean self-esteem of the low-and-middle weight by | | | | and fitness occurred independent of the exercise |
| height group was higher than the mean of the high | | | | group. Correlations among the measures revealed |
| weight group. In analyzing weight alone, the | | | | relationships among physical self-perceptions, body |
| self-esteem of the middle-weight group was | | | | satisfaction, global self-esteem, and fitness (Caruso & |
| significantly higher than the self-esteem of the | | | | Gill, 1992).Study of MotivationIn order to study |
| high-weight group. The correlation of the obesity index | | | | motivation among obese children, a study used a body |
| and self-esteem indicated that as weight increased, | | | | video distortion method to compare their body image |
| self-esteem decreased (Martin, Housley, & McCoy, | | | | with the body perception of non-obese peers. A |
| 1988).In another study, the relationship between obesity | | | | standardized series of body size estimations were |
| and self-esteem was examined cross-sectionally and | | | | used: cognitive (what subject "think" they look like), |
| prospectively over three years in a cohort of 1278 | | | | affective (what they "feel" they look like), and optative |
| adolescents in grades 7 to 9 at baseline. | | | | (what they "wish" they looked like). Forty-one obese |
| Cross-sectional analysis revealed an inverse | | | | children (16 boys and 25 girls; average 12 years old) |
| association between physical appearance self-esteem | | | | and 42 age-matched control subjects compared |
| and body mass index in both males and females. In | | | | percentages of deviation from the accurate body |
| females, body mass index was inversely associated | | | | image. The results showed that obese children were |
| with global self-esteem, close friendship, and behavioral | | | | more accurate in estimating their real body width, but |
| conduct. In males, body mass index was inversely | | | | desired to reduce their body size by about 25% |
| associated with athletic and romantic appeal. These | | | | (Probst, Braet, & De Vos, 1995).The significance of |
| results suggest that low self-esteem may be an | | | | exercise as a healthy related behavior has brought |
| important factor in preventing or reversing obesity | | | | forth the need to address motivational problems |
| (French, Perry, Leon, & Fulkerson, 1996).A study by | | | | associated with its adoption and maintenance. In this |
| Strauss supports data from Martin, Housely, and | | | | respect, exercise psychology research would appear |
| McCoy. Straus's data demonstrates that negative | | | | to provide potential for guiding significant public health |
| weight perceptions are particularly common among | | | | initiatives. Cognitions about self-perceived quality of life |
| young adolescent white females, which reveals that | | | | vary across the stages of change, with those who |
| young obese adolescent females show the lowest | | | | are least prepared to adopt regular exercise reporting |
| levels of self-esteem. Nevertheless, negative | | | | the lowest levels of quality of life. These finding |
| perceptions of obesity also exist among adolescent | | | | suggests that cognitive-motivational messages |
| boys. The data also demonstrates significant social | | | | designed to emphasize quality of life benefits |
| consequences of decreasing self-esteem in obese | | | | associated with exercise may be useful intervention |
| children. Obese children with decreasing levels of | | | | strategies for people who are less motivationally ready |
| self-esteem showed significantly elevated levels of | | | | for change (Laforge & Rossi, 1999).To remedy the |
| loneliness, sadness, and nervousness. Although these | | | | localized problem of motivation, CHAMP has |
| efforts are not unique for obese children, they are | | | | incorporated the use of one-on-one fitness specialists |
| nevertheless quite important because nearly 70% of | | | | who act not only as instructors, but as mentors also.In |
| white obese females demonstrated decreasing levels | | | | general, research has demonstrated that engaging in |
| of self-esteem by early adolescence (Strauss, | | | | exercise and physical activity significantly enhances |
| 2000).Additional studies need to focus on whether | | | | mental health and can increase self-esteem. Extensive |
| positive family or social interactions can alleviate the | | | | meta-analysis states that exercise has a positive |
| negative psychosocial effects of adolescent obesity. | | | | impact on enhancing mood, self-concept, and |
| Strauss concludes that children with obese mothers, | | | | self-esteem. In addition, feelings of depression, anger, |
| low family incomes, and lower cognitive stimulation | | | | and anxiety tend to dissipate after exercise |
| have significantly higher risks of developing obesity, | | | | (Greenberg & Oglesby, 1999).Need for More |
| independent of other demographic and socio-economic | | | | ResearchMany questions still exist regarding the |
| factors. In contrast, increased rates of obesity in black | | | | combination of specific modes of exercise with |
| children, children with lower family education, and | | | | different intensities and their resulting productivity. |
| non-professional parents may be mediated through the | | | | Studies show that resistance training is beneficial, but |
| confounding effects of low income and lower levels of | | | | not much is known on intensity and duration.The |
| cognitive stimulation (Strauss & Knight, 1999).Effects of | | | | relationship between self-esteem and obesity has not |
| ExerciseThe case for exercise and health has | | | | received a great deal of empirical evaluation using |
| primarily been made on its impact on diseases such as | | | | strong research methodologies. |