Abstract
ObjectiveTo evaluate the quality of life (QOL) of overweight and obese middle or high school students and identify relevant factors influencing their QOL scores.Methods716 students were recruited from 6 middle or high schools in Hangzhou, China. The Chinese version of the Youth Quality of Life Instrument–Weight Module (YQOL-W) was self administered. The YQOL-W scores were compared among different BMI groups, gender, educational status, annual household income, parental education and recruitment community using t test or one-way analysis of variance. The independent association of these variables with QOL among overweight and obese students was examined using multivariable linear regression modeling.ResultsOverweight and obese students reported lower total scores, self, social and environment scores than their normal weight peers (all P<0.001). The QOL of overweight and obese middle and high school students was associated with BMI value, gender, educational status, parental education, and recruitment community. Girls had lower total scores, self, social and environment domain scores than boys (all P<0.001); high school students had lower total and three domain scores than middle school students (all P<0.05). Students whose fathers had higher education reported higher total scores, self and social scores than students with less educated fathers (all P<0.05). Students whose mothers had higher education reported higher environment scores than students with less educated mothers (P = 0.01). Students from migrant communities reported significantly lower total scores, self and social scores than those from rural communities (all P<0.05), but comparable scores with those from urban communities (P>0.05). Students from migrant communities reported comparable environment scores with those from rural and urban communities (P>0.05).ConclusionsOverweight and obesity have negative effects on students’ quality of life. Therefore weight specific QOL could be included in weight reduction interventions as a relevant outcome.
Highlights
Childhood obesity has become a threat to public health in many countries
The quality of life (QOL) of overweight and obese middle and high school students was associated with BMI value, gender, educational status, parental education, and recruitment community
Weight specific QOL could be included in weight reduction interventions as a relevant outcome
Summary
Childhood obesity has become a threat to public health in many countries. In the World Health Organization African Region alone, the number of overweight or obese children increased from 4 million in 1990 to 9 million in 2013 [1]. The dramatic worldwide trend towards increased childhood obesity appears to include China. Psychosocial impairments appear to be more prevalent at younger ages for example, poor self-esteem and behavioral problems seem to be more common in obese children and adolescents [6, 7]. A recent review found that obesity is associated with lower QOL in children and adolescents across multiple domains including overall health-related quality of life, social functioning, physical functioning and psychological well-being [9]. Overweight and obese youths are at a risk of developing health-compromising behaviors that may compound medical and social problems associated with excess weight [10]. A recent review found that among the 238 studies published on youth’s QOL from 1999 to 2008, only 5 of them were related to obesity and few existing studies used established weight-specific QOL instruments for youth [11]
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