Investigating the Quality of Life of Adolescents with Overweight and Obesity Using an IWQOL-kids Questionnaire

Fereshteh  Eidy; Razieh  Jafarizadeh; Fatemeh  Shoghi; Amirhossein  Moradian; Fatemeh Sadat  Dolatabadi; Samira  Rabiei

doi:10.18502/ijre.v20i4.18871

Fereshteh Eidy Center for Orthopedic Trans-Disciplinary Applied Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Razieh Jafarizadeh Department of Statistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Fatemeh Shoghi Department of Public Health, Student Research Committee, Esfarayen Faculty of Medical Sciences, Esfarayen, Iran
Amirhossein Moradian Department of Public Health, Student Research Committee, Esfarayen Faculty of Medical Sciences, Esfarayen, Iran
Fatemeh Sadat Dolatabadi Department of Public Health, Student Research Committee, Esfarayen Faculty of Medical Sciences, Esfarayen, Iran
Samira Rabiei Department of Nutrition Research, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute and Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijre.v20i4.18871

Keywords: Health-related quality of life, Weight-related quality of life, Overweight, Obesity, Adolescents

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Overweight and obesity are serious public health problems that have increased significantly among adolescents in recent decades. This condition can affect various aspects of adolescents' quality of life. A questionnaire based on IWQOL-kids was used to assess the quality of life among overweight and obese adolescents in Iran for the first time.

Methods: This study was conducted on 170 overweight and obese adolescents (both boys and girls) aged 11 to 18 years educating in schools of North Khorasan Province. Using a cluster sampling method, data collection was conducted. Data were collected using the IWQOL-kids, a quality of life questionnaire for adolescent obesity, and satistical analyses were conducted using R software version 4.3.2 through univariable and multivariable regression models.

Results: The mean of total score of IWQOL-kids for overweight and obese girls and boys was 82.1 ± 16 and 86.4 ± 15.5, respectively. A significant correlation was found between age and the number of siblings with physical functioning, self-esteem, and overall quality of life scores (p < 0.05). Additionally, age and the number of siblings were significantly associated with social life and family relationships (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Given the impact of weight on adolescents' quality of life, future studies are recommended to include body composition assessments to more accurately examine the impact of gender differences on the quality of life of this age group.