Health-related quality of life and perceived health status of adolescents with obesity are improved by a 10-month multidisciplinary intervention

Background: Although multidisciplinary weight management interventions have been shown effective in improving body composition and cardio-respiratory fitness, their effects on HRQOL and perceived health status remain uncertain in adolescents with obesity. Objective: To assess the impact of a 10-month multidisciplinary weight management intervention on HRQOL and health perception in adolescents with obesity, exploring whether these changes were associated with changes in body weight and body composition. Methods: Thirty-six adolescents with obesity (28 girls and 8 boys; mean age: 13 ± 1.32 years) enrolled in a multidisciplinary weight management intervention composed of nutritional counseling, physical activity and health-related therapeutic education. Validated self-report questionnaires were used to assess HRQOL (SF-36) and health perception (HP questionnaire) at baseline (T0) after5 months (T1) and after 10 month of intervention (T2). In addition, anthropometric parameters and body composition (DXA) were measured at T0, T1 and T2. Results: Items of the SF-36 significantly improved at T1 and T2, such as physical functioning (P <.01), general health (P <.01), physical (P <.001) and mental score (T1: P <.05, T2: P <.01). Dimensions of health perception improved significantly such as physical condition (P <.01 at T2), adiposity (P <.001 at T1 and T2), healthy balanced diet (P <.01 at T1 and P <.001 at T2), general health (P <.05), and perceived general health (T1: P <.01, T2: P <.001). Body weight, BMI, and fat mass (in Kg and in %) were significantly decreased (P <.001) at T1 and T2. No relationship was observed between variations of weight, BMI and Fat mass and variations of HRQOL and health perception. Conclusion: A 10-month multidisciplinary weight-management intervention was associated with positive changes in HRQOL and perceived health status, which might not be explained by body weight and adiposity improvements.