Background: Poor quality of life has been shown to occur in youth with obesity. This study aimed to assess associations between health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measures with weight outcomes in a busy paediatric weight management service.
Methods: A cross-sectional longitudinal clinical cohort, ‘Childhood Overweight BioRepository of Australia (COBRA)’, was used (n=250, median age 11, range 2-18 year, mean BMI z-score 2.5±0.2). Clinical data was collected and HRQOL questionnaires; Pediatric Quality of Life (PedsQL), ‘Sizing Me Up’ (SMU), and psychological well-being questionnaires; Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and Kessler 10 (K10) were completed by the child and primary caregiver. HRQOL results were compared to age and sex adjusted BMI z-score at baseline and follow-up. Direct logistic regression modelling was performed to assess the impact of HRQOL factors on the likelihood of successful weight reduction over a period of ≥12 months.
Results: Mean self-report HRQOL scores were; 68.0±15.28 (PedsQL, range 0-100), 64.8±15.8, (SMU, range 0-100), 17.3±4.4 (SDQ, range 0-40) and 20.0±7.7 (K10, range 0-50). A significant negative correlation was observed between HRQOL scores and childhood obesity (baseline BMI z-scores (p<0.01)). No correlations were observed between psychological well-being measures and BMI z-scores. Higher subscale scores of the PedsQL and SDQ, which measure impaired psychosocial health and less difficulties with hyperactivity and inattention, significantly predict weigh loss in obese children after 12 months.
Conclusion: HRQOL questionnaires may be useful in identifying individuals who require additional support to achieve weight loss goals in a tertiary weight management service.