RESUMO
Objective: To describe a case of an obese child whose weight gain was related to the Munchausen Syndrome by proxy (MSP). Methods: This is a case report including information regarding the child's clinical history and the mother's behavior. The common features of the syndrome are confronted with the description of the case, seeking to demonstrate the similarities. Results: The description ratifies the diagnosis based on the signs and symptoms presented by the child (<5 years old, frequent contacts with health system, symptoms witnessed only by the mother, confusing findings, not helped by treatments, emotionally distant father) and the attitude of the mother (concerned, interested in procedures, comfortable in the medical setting, higher medical knowledge, hostile when thwarted). Conclusion: The case presented points to a new etiology, the MSP, to be considered within the set of factors currently known to cause and maintain obesity in childhood.
Assuntos
Comportamento Materno/psicologia , Síndrome de Munchausen Causada por Terceiro/diagnóstico , Obesidade Infantil/etiologia , Índice de Massa Corporal , Pré-Escolar , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Pai , Humanos , Masculino , Mães/psicologia , Síndrome de Munchausen Causada por Terceiro/complicaçõesRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the presence of family breakdown factors among eutrophic and overweight/obese adolescents. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 242 students aged between 14 and 19 years old, from a public school. Each student was weighed, measured and answered a questionnaire with closed questions addressing the presence of family breakdown factors. The adolescents were divided in two groups: euthophic and overweight/obese. The answers of both groups were compared by Fisher's exact and Mann-Whitney tests. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of the studied factors between the two groups. Comparing the number of positive answers (presence of family breakdown factors) and negative ones (absence of family breakdown factors), no difference was observed between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The inclusion of a control group showed that factors of family breakdown, usually identified as associated with obesity in adolescents, may also be present in eutrophic adolescents.