HealthDay (5/19, Thompson) reports a study found that “children’s body mass index (BMI) rose steadily as their personal list of traumas mounted, including abuse, divorce, poverty, neglect or bullying.” The researchers “analyzed data from more than 5,400 11- and 12-year-olds of Latinx and Hispanic descent.” Results indicated that “3 out of 4 kids had at least one prior adverse childhood event.” According to the study, “every additional two traumatic experiences caused a nearly half-point increase in BMI.” The study highlighted that “one contributing factor might be that they are disproportionately affected by childhood traumas, researchers said. More than 83% of Latinx and Hispanic kids reported at least one trauma, compared to 72% of non-Hispanic kids.” With that said, “children who said they had at least one caring adult in their lives tended to have lower BMIs, even if they’d experienced high levels of trauma, the study found.” The study was published in JAMA Network Open.
Related Links:
— “Childhood Trauma Tied to Higher Obesity Risk, But One Caring Adult Can Make A Difference,”Dennis Thompson, HealthDay , May 19, 2026