The effect of body mass on health-related quality of life among Singaporean adolescents: results from the SCORM study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between body mass and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among Singaporean adolescents. Variation in this relationship by age, gender and ethnicity, and association of HRQOL with change in body mass over time and with demographic, socioeconomic and health variables were also assessed.


METHODS
HRQOL was assessed for Singaporean adolescents aged 11-18 from their own (N=1,249) and their parent’s (N=948) perspective using PedsQLTM 4.0 generic core scales. Body mass, measured as body mass index z-score based on the WHO Reference 2007, was categorized as thin, healthy weight, overweight and obese. Multiple linear regression models assessed the relationship between current body mass and HRQOL, adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic and health variables. Differences between adolescent and parent-proxy reported HRQOL were also investigated.


RESULTS
Obese adolescents (and their parents) reported significantly lower HRQOL, overall and in most domains, compared to healthy weight adolescents. Parents tended to report lower HRQOL for their adolescents than the adolescents did themselves; however, this difference was much larger and statistically significant for obese adolescents.


CONCLUSIONS
Obesity is associated with reduced HRQOL among adolescents. The effect in these Singaporean adolescents is similar to that in populations with higher rates of obesity. Awareness of this relationship can make it easier for health professionals, teachers, parents and peers to be supportive of obese adolescents.
Østbye
Truls
T
Health Services and Systems Research, Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore.
Malhotra
Rahul
R
Wong
Hwee-Bee
HB
Tan
Say-Beng
SB
Saw
Seang-Mei
SM
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D057566:Self Report; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology