Metabolic correlates of health-related quality of life among overweight and obese adolescents

BMC Pediatr. 2018 Feb 3;18(1):25. doi: 10.1186/s12887-018-1044-8.

Abstract

Background: Little is known about the metabolic factors associated with the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among obese youths. The aim of this study is to assess metabolic correlates of HRQOL in a clinical sample of Taiwanese overweight and obese (OW/OB) adolescents.

Methods: OW/OB adolescents (age 11-19 years) were recruited and compared to their normal-weight counterparts in a tertiary hospital. HRQOL was assessed by the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL). Student t tests and Cohen's d were used to compare the differences in the PedsQL scores between normal-weight and OW/OB participants who were stratified by their cumulative number of cardiometabolic risk factors (CRF). Pearson's correlation and multivariate linear regression analyses were applied to identify predictors of PedsQL.

Results: OW/OB adolescents (n = 60) reported lower PedsQL scores than those of normal-weight peers. The negative effects were even larger in OW/OB participants with more than one CRF. Body mass index z-scores and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were negatively correlated with overall and subscales of PedsQL (r = - 0.283 to - 0.431). Multivariate linear models showed ALT to be the most salient factor associated with poor obesity-related HRQOL.

Conclusion: Taiwanese OW/OB adolescents, particularly those having additional CRF, reported worse HRQOL. Impaired liver functions may predispose OW/OB subjects to even worse HRQOL.

Keywords: Adolescent; Cardiometabolic risk; Health-related quality of life; Obesity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / diagnosis
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / etiology*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / metabolism
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Female
  • Health Status Indicators
  • Humans
  • Linear Models
  • Male
  • Metabolic Diseases / diagnosis
  • Metabolic Diseases / etiology*
  • Metabolic Diseases / metabolism
  • Pediatric Obesity / complications*
  • Pediatric Obesity / metabolism*
  • Quality of Life*
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Biomarkers