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Weight loss and changes in generic and weight-specific quality of life in obese adolescents

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Abstract

Purpose

To investigate how weight loss correlates with changes in generic and weight-specific quality of life (QoL).

Methods

Youth generic (YQOL-S) and weight-specific instruments (YQOL-W) from 133 youth age 11–19 were analyzed at the beginning and end of 4-week immersion camp sessions known to produce weight loss. Paired samples t tests were used to test mean difference between baseline and final Body Mass Index (BMI) and YQOL-S and YQOL-W scores. YQOL-S and YQOL-W scores were transformed to values between 0 and 100, with higher values indicating better QOL. Cohen’s d effect sizes were calculated to assess magnitude of effects. Percent weight loss (as % of baseline weight), change in BMI (baseline kg/m²—follow-up kg/m²), and change in % overweight ((BMI—50th% BMI for age and sex)/50th% BMI for age and sex × 100) were calculated. Multiple regressions were used to model final YQOL scores in the 11–14 and 15–19 age groups as functions of each measure of weight change, sex, age, and baseline YQOL score.

Results

Youth experienced significant reductions in BMI (Mean change = 3.7, SD = 1.4, t = 34.1, P < 0.001) and in the other measures of weight change. YQOL-S and YQOL-W scores improved significantly (P < 0.001), and effect sizes were 0.61 and 0.66, respectively.

Conclusion

Changes in generic and weight-specific quality of life scores are associated with weight loss. The weight-specific measure is slightly more sensitive to weight changes; however, when controlling for modifiers, the YQOL-W remained significantly associated with weight loss, while the generic QoL measure did not.

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Abbreviations

PRO:

Patient-reported outcomes

QOL:

Quality of life

YQOL-R:

Youth quality of life-research instrument

YQOL-S:

Youth quality of life-surveillance instrument

YQOL-W:

Youth quality of life-weight instrument

zBMI:

Standardized z score BMI

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by a grant to Donald L. Patrick, PhD, MSPH (PI) from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (Grant #R01 DK071101). We acknowledge with appreciation the following people who assisted with the collection of data in Wellspring’s programs: Kristina Pecora Kelly, Michelle Kwandham, Elizabeth Ramon, Sammi Gaspar, Kathryn Rooney, and Veronica Reyes. The authors thank Aprille O’Neill-Kemp for her help in conducting the study and preparing the manuscript.

Conflict of interest statement

Daniel Kirschenbaum is employed, in part, by Wellspring, a company that provides immersion treatment programs for overweight young people and adults.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Services, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Box 394555, Seattle, WA, 98195-9455, USA

    D. L. Patrick, A. M. Skalicky, T. C. Edwards, A. Kuniyuki & L. S. Morales

  2. Group Health Research Institute, 1730 Minor Avenue, Suite 1600, Seattle, WA, USA

    L. S. Morales

  3. Department of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    M. Leng

  4. Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL, USA

    D. S. Kirschenbaum

  5. Wellspring, A Division of CRC Health Group, Cupertino, IL, USA

    D. S. Kirschenbaum

Authors
  1. D. L. Patrick
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  2. A. M. Skalicky
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  3. T. C. Edwards
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  4. A. Kuniyuki
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  5. L. S. Morales
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  6. M. Leng
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  7. D. S. Kirschenbaum
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. L. Patrick.

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Patrick, D.L., Skalicky, A.M., Edwards, T.C. et al. Weight loss and changes in generic and weight-specific quality of life in obese adolescents. Qual Life Res 20, 961–968 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-010-9824-0

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