ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This study explored binge eating among an adolescent obese population to ascertain the prevalence of bingeing, the relationship between binge eating and body mass index (BMI), and to evaluate significant relationships between binge eating, emotional/behavioral functioning, and health-related quality of life. METHODS: Participants included 102 overweight adolescents aged 12-17 years presenting to a multidisciplinary outpatient obesity clinic. Data obtained included height, weight, and self-report questionnaire data on emotional and behavioral functioning. RESULTS: Binge eating prevalence included 33% moderate to severe binge eating. Binge eating was significantly positively related to BMI and depression, negative mood, feelings of ineffectiveness, negative self-esteem and significantly negatively related to somatic complaints and all aspects of health-related quality of life. Important demographic differences emerged with regard to the impact of binge eating on health-related quality of life with Caucasians, females, and older groups experiencing more pervasive impact. CONCLUSIONS: This research suggests that bingeing behaviors have pervasive and important implications for health-related quality of life for obese adolescents.
Subject(s)
Adolescent Behavior/psychology , Bulimia/psychology , Pediatric Obesity/psychology , Quality of Life/psychology , Adolescent , Adolescent Behavior/ethnology , Black or African American/ethnology , Black or African American/statistics & numerical data , Age Factors , Body Mass Index , Bulimia/epidemiology , Bulimia/ethnology , Child , Emotions/physiology , Female , Humans , Male , Pediatric Obesity/epidemiology , Pediatric Obesity/ethnology , Severity of Illness Index , Sex Factors , White People/ethnology , White People/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Excess weight in youth can have a profound impact on emotional and social functioning. This study investigated depression, social anxiety, and health-related quality of life in overweight Arkansas youth. METHODS: Sixty-three middle school students participated. Children completed the Child Depression Inventory, the Social Anxiety Scale, and the Pediatric Quality of Life. Height and weight were obtained. RESULTS: Overweight youth were similar to normal weight youth on all measures with no statistically or clinically significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that in a community with a high rate of overweight persons (youth and adults), the impact of the youth's own weight status on their emotional state and quality of life is negligible.
