Workplace weight management programme: Does it promote weight reduction?

Abstract

Introduction: This cross sectional study was conducted to assess the quality of life (QoL) of primary school children in Kuala Lumpur. Method: As much as 124 children (75 normal weight, 23 overweight and 26 obese) aged between 8 and 11 years old were participated in this study. Result: Mean for physical characteristics of the subjects were 35.5± 12.8 kg for body weight, 134.8± 9.1 cm for height, 19.2± 5.1 kg/m2 for BMI and 1.2± 2.1 for BMI z-score. QoL was assessed using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory version 4.0. It was self-administered and completed by both parent-proxy and child self-report. This questionnaire assessed physical, emotional, social, and school functioning from which total, physical and psychosocial health summary scores were derived. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in QoL mean score of normal weight, overweight and obese children in all domains including physical health, psychosocial health and total score either for child self report or parent-proxy report. However, this study found that overall children self-report QoL mean score was higher among normal weight children (71.2± 12.9) than overweight (69.9± 11.0) and obese children (66.7± 10.9). For parent-proxy, parents of obese children reported higher QoL (69.7± 15.7) than normal weight (68.6± 14.1) and overweight children parents (63.9± 16.0). This study indicated that higher BMI associated with lower quality of life (r =−0.13, p > 0.05 for total score) reported by the children. Conclusion: Higher BMI contributes to lower quality of life and the trend shows that the overweight and obese children have lower quality of life.