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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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Childhood Abuse May Lead to Obesity

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(Newser) – Compounding the mental and physical pain that accompanies childhood abuse, a new study suggests abuse may lead to adult obesity. Researchers studied 410 children who had court-substantiated cases of physical and sexual abuse before the age of 11; 30 years later, their body mass index scores were compared with a control group. Physical abuse sufferers had higher BMI scores; those who had suffered sexual abuse did not, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Researchers believe the former type of abuse may affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, triggering an increase in peripheral cortisol, which has been linked with abdominal obesity. More simply, they also suspect that overeating could be a way of dealing with the pain.

Childhood abuse may be linked to obesity.
Childhood abuse may be linked to obesity.   (Getty Images)
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10 comments
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Janniel
Oct 17, 09 8:47 AM CDT
eat less, move more Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
dontlikeyou
Oct 17, 09 3:12 PM CDT
I see. The left is now telling us that being fat is your parent's fault, not yours. Sorry, I am responsible for what I do or do not eat and so is every other person. More ridiculous insanity from the left.
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IN RESPONSE:
Spudsy
Oct 17, 09 8:32 PM CDT
Yeah dly, the left has controlled Obesity magazine for some time now. Nothing but drivel from those fat studying leftists. The right needs a similar media outlet. Perhaps Fox can start a magazine, " Fatheads like Rush" . Just so they can put their side out. Paranoid much?
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0
BlueAyez
Oct 17, 09 9:26 AM CDT
So does this mean that sexual and physical abuse are rampant in America? I'm beginning to wonder. As a social work student I think this merits further investigation. Reply
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+8
IN RESPONSE:
Snarfeh
Oct 17, 09 10:52 AM CDT
Blue, I do believe both happen far more than what is reported, particularly the sexual abuse. Physical abuse can be seen and so can sexual if it's very physical, but if it's not, the victims all too often are ashamed and/or afraid to speak out. I had an ex who experienced it and we used to talk about it and she tried her best to help me understand why she felt she could not tell on her abuser. I understood what she was saying, but I still could not fathom it. Maybe it's because I have not been abused that I could not fathom it. But whatever it is that holds some victims back from telling makes me wonder if there are way more victims than we realize.
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