Binge eating and weight-related quality of life in obese adolescents.
Limited data exist regarding the association between binge eating and quality of life (QOL) in obese adolescent girls and boys. We, therefore, studied binge eating and QOL in 158 obese (BMI ≥ 95th percentile) adolescents (14.5 ± 1.4 years, 68.0% female, 59% African-American) prior to weight-loss treatment. Youth completed an interview to assess binge eating and a questionnaire measure of QOL. Controlling for body composition, binge eating youth (n = 35), overall, reported poorer QOL in domains of health, mobility, and self-esteem compared to those without binge eating (ps < 0.05). Also, girls, overall, reported poorer QOL than boys in activities of daily-living, mobility, self-esteem, and social/interpersonal functioning (ps < 0.05). Girls with binge eating reported the greatest impairments in activities of daily living, mobility, self-esteem, social/interpersonal functioning, and work/school QOL (ps < 0.05). Among treatment-seeking obese adolescents, binge eating appears to be a marker of QOL impairment, especially among girls. Prospective and treatment designs are needed to explore the directional relationship between binge eating and QOL and their impact on weight outcomes.
Section on Growth and Obesity, Program in Developmental Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development-NICHD, National Institutes of Health-NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Lisa M
LM
Ranzenhofer
Kelli M
KM
Columbo
Marian
M
Tanofsky-Kraff
Lauren B
LB
Shomaker
Omni
O
Cassidy
Brittany E
BE
Matheson
Ronette L
RL
Kolotkin
Jenna M
JM
Checchi
Margaret
M
Keil
Jennifer R
JR
McDuffie
Jack A
JA
Yanovski
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States