Quality of life in Brazilian obese adolescents: effects of a long-term multidisciplinary lifestyle therapy.
BACKGROUND
Obesity has adverse physical, social, and economic consequences that can negatively affect quality of life (QOL). Thus the aim of this study was to verify the effects of a long-term multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention on QOL, body image, anxiety, depression and binge eating in obese adolescents.


METHODS
Sixty-six obese adolescents (41 girls and 25 boys; BMI: 35.62 +/- 4.18 kg/m2) were recruited from the Multidisciplinary Obesity Intervention Program outpatient clinic, and were submitted to a multidisciplinary lifestyle therapy (short-term = 12 weeks and long-term = 24 weeks), composed of medical, dietary, exercise and psychological programs. Validated self-report questionnaires were used to assess symptoms of anxiety Trait/State (STAI); depression (BDI); binge eating (BES), body image dissatisfaction (BSQ) and QOL (SF-36). Data were analyzed by means of scores; comparisons were made by ANOVA for repeated measures, and Turkey's test as post-hoc and Students T test.


RESULTS
Long-term therapy decreased depression and binge eating symptoms, body image dissatisfaction, and improved QOL in girls, whereas, for boys, 24 weeks, were effective to reduce anxiety trait/state and symptoms of binge eating, and to improve means of dimensions of QOL (p < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
A long-term multidisciplinary lifestyle therapy is effective to control psychological aspects and to improve QOL in obese adolescents.
Lofrano-Prado
Mara Cristina
MC
Post-Graduate Program in Nutrition, Federal University of São Paulo, Paulista School of Medicine, 535 São Paulo, Brazil. maralofrano@gmail.com
Antunes
Hanna Karen Moreira
HK
do Prado
Wagner Luiz
WL
de Piano
Aline
A
Caranti
Danielle Arisa
DA
Tock
Lian
L
Carnier
June
J
Tufik
Sergio
S
de Mello
Marco Túlio
MT
Dâmaso
Ana R
AR
D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D018529:Nutritional Support; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011613:Psychotherapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult