Social Skills Training and the Treatment of Pediatric Overweight

It is well established that overweight is associated with a series of health complications and psychological impairment. Of additional concern is that overweight is associated with specic decits within the social domain. Though often considered secondary to the comorbid physical complications, these psychosocial complications may be one of the more salient consequences associated with childhood overweight (Hayden-Wade et al., 2005; Kolotkin et al., 2006; Zeller, Saelens, Roehrig, Kirk, & Daniels, 2004). Indeed, overweight youth report not only increased physical health problems but also greater psychological and social consequences in comparison to their nonoverweight peers (Koplan, Liverman, & Kraak, 2005).