Overweight linked to bullying, disease

BRISTOL, England, July 6 (UPI) -- Overweight or obese children are more likely than others to be bullied and more likely to have an ongoing chronic illness later in life, Irish researchers say.

The research team used a sample of 8,568 9-year-old children and their families from Growing Up in Ireland -- the National Longitudinal Study of Children.

Dr. Udo Reulbach, at the HRB Centre for Primary Care Research at Trinity College Dublin, said previous research indicated girls may be more susceptible to overweight and obesity than boys.

The research team used a sample of 8,568 9-year-old children and their families from Growing Up in Ireland -- the National Longitudinal Study of Children.

Children completed surveys at school and an interviewer administered questionnaires with parents and children in their homes. Analysis was based on statistically reweighted data to ensure that it is representative of all 9-year-olds in Ireland.

"Obesity and overweight are of major concern in Irish children with girls being more affected," Reulbach says in a statement. "It is associated with a higher likelihood of having chronic conditions and being bullied."

The findings were presented the annual scientific meeting of the Society for Academic Primary Care held at the University of Bristol in England.