Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Obesity in children and young people (CYP) can cause various physical disabilities and psychological problems. They are at risk of being stigmatized, leading to poor academic performance and social interactions. It is important to assess the impact of obesity on the lives of CYP through tools such as Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) questionnaires.

Aim: Longitudinal assessment of the anthropometric parameters and HRQOL scores at baseline, 3 to 6 months (mean duration=7.4months) and 12 to 18 months (mean duration =14.88 months) of CYP with obesity, managed by the Complications of Excess weight (CEW) service.

Methods: The study included 34 patients (16 males) with an average age of 13.65 years (range 6.16-16.75 years) and a mean baseline BMI of 42.94 kg/m². Participants completed the PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales, a paediatric quality of life questionnaire consisting of 24 items with five response dimensions (never, almost never, sometimes, often, almost always) covering physical health, emotional health, school well-being, and social well-being. The psychosocial health summary score combined data on emotional, social, and school functioning, while the total score was the average of all item scores.

Results: The total HRQOL score improved from a baseline of 56.47 ± 49/100 to 57.97 ± 19.76/100 at the annual review. The most affected subdomains were school and emotional functioning, with baseline scores of 50.99 ± 21.75/100 and 53.34 ± 21.07/100, respectively. Interventions including psychological support, cognitive restructuring, medical management, and social support improved the psychosocial score summary from 54.74 ± 17.49/100 to 56.76 ± 19.27/100 at 6 months, and 56.62 ± 20.71/100 at 12 months. There was also a steady decrease in BMI SDS from a baseline of 3.81 ± 0.59 to 3.76 ± 0.64 and to 3.68 ± 0.67, at their 6 month and 12 months review, with a significant p-value (P = 0.029).

Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that targeted interventions by a multidisciplinary service can improve HRQOL in CYP with obesity. The questionnaire helps healthcare professionals identify specific issues and provide focused support. Investing in multidisciplinary teams is crucial for managing obesity-related complications, including mental and emotional health issues, thereby enhancing long-term outcomes and overall well-being