Evaluation Of Cardiovascular Functions And Mental Health Among Overweight And Obese Female Students In Technical Secondary School

Objective To analyze changes of the maximum oxygen uptake, pulse and blood pressure after loading locomotion in overweight and obese girls of technical secondary school, and evaluate the influence of overweight and obesity on cardiovascular functions in female adolescents, and to analyze the effect of overweight and obesity on self- concept and some emotional symptoms such as depression and anxiety among these girls, in order to provide some evidence for the school-based directions of weight control, cardiopulmonary function protection and to provide the basis for the mental health education of overweigh and obese female adolescents in schools.Method Height and weight was measured in 1302 female students aged 15-20y. 35 and 62 students are classified as obesity and overweight respectively according to weight-for-height method, 100 normal weight students are enrolled as control. Pulse and blood pressure were measured in decubitus early morning, before and after the loading locomotion by squating down and rising up 20 times in 30 seconds. We measured the pulse in instant 5 minutes by step test, found the estimation of the maximum oxygen uptake on Astrand linear chart according to the examinee's pulse and weight and calculated the relative value of the maximum oxygen uptake. In the same time, we compared their absolute and relative values of the maximum oxygen uptake and changes of pulse and blood pressure surrounding the test by ANOVA to see whether there was some difference or not. We utilized Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, Zung self-rating Anxiety Scale and Piers-Harris Children' s self-concept scale to rate emotional symptoms and self-concept of students in the three groups.Result Maximum oxygen uptake for weight in obese female students was significant higher than that of overweight students and the control. Pulse and blood pressure in decubitus early morning or before and after the loading locomotion in obese females were higher than that of overweight and normal -weight female students. The percentage of pulse increase in obese and over-weight girls were higher than the control. The rates ofdepression and anxiety symptoms were 37.1% and 22.9% in obese group, 14.5% and 6.5% in overweigh group, 22.0% and 7.0% in control group respectively. The prevalence of depression symptoms in obese group was higher than that in overweigh group significantly (p<0.05). The prevalence of anxiety symptoms in obese group was higher than that in other groups significantly (p<0.05). The total score on self-concept and scores in three sub-scales including anxiety, gregariousness, well-being and satisfaction were different among the three groups significantly, which in obese group were significantly lower than those in other groups. But there was no significant difference in the total score on self-concept between overweigh group and the control group.Conclusion Overweight and obesity have significant influence on cardiovascular functions to female adolescents. The depression and anxiety symptom of obese girls in technical secondary school is serious. Obesity may decrease their self-concept.