Evaluation of self-awareness of adolescents with overweight and obesity (Obescat Study)

Abstract:

Background. Overweight and obesity may not only have adverse physical consequences, but may also impact the adolescents' self-esteem. Objective. To determine the self-esteem of adolescents with obesity and overweight, and to determine its association with the response to the lifestyle counseling to reduce the body mass index (BMI). Method. One-year randomized clinical trial in adolescents 10-14 years old with obesity and overweight attending pediatric primary care units of Catalonia. A lifestyle counseling to reduce BMI was performed, including an intervention group (IG) seen for six visits (months 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12) and a control group (CG) seen for two visits (months 0 and 12). Self-esteem was determined at enrollment and at the end of the intervention using the AF-5 Questionnaire. Results. One hundred seventy-four adolescents were enrolled, and 125 (71.8%) completed the study. Average age was 11.81 years (1.21) and 50% were females. BMI Z-scores decreased in both groups (p<0.001). One hundred and sixty participants (80 IG and 80 CG) completed the questionnaire at enrollment, and 100 at completion of the study (49 IG and 51 CG). The most affected dimensions were emotional and physical. Compared with the CG, girls in the IG had significantly improved emotional (5.54 vs. 4.36; p=0.031) and family (9.02 vs. 7.96; p=0.006) dimensions. By contrast, boys in the IG had significantly worse academic/work (6.29 vs. 7.27; p=0.031) and physical (4.63 vs. 6.10; p=0.014) dimensions at the end of the study. Conclusions. Our adolescents with obesity and overweight showed a low emotional and physical self-esteem. Improvements in self-esteem with the Obescat lifestyle-counseling program were seen only in girls.

Año de publicación:

2013

Keywords:

• obesity
• body mass index
• adolescent
• Overweight
• Self-esteem
• Clinical trial

Fuente:

scopus