title: Psychological functioning in adolescents with obesity co-morbidities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An understanding of the relationships among obesity severity, medical co-morbidities, and psychological complications is important in the design of interventions to encourage overweight youth and families to accomplish healthy lifestyle changes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated associations among psychological status, diagnosed medical co-morbidities consistent with components of the metabolic syndrome, and BMI among 166 obese adolescents (11-18 years) referred for endocrinology consultation. We hypothesized that there would be higher levels of psychological distress among youth with more diagnosed components of the metabolic syndrome (i.e., more medical co-morbidities associated with obesity).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Contrary to expectation, we found that meeting criteria for extreme obesity alone was more predictive of psychological difficulties.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The degree of obesity may be more relevant than the number of associated medical co-morbidities in impacting psychological health. It is important to recognize individual differences between patients in terms of identifying motivating goals for accomplishing weight management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Colorado Denver and Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA. Natalie.abramson@childrenscolorado.org
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Walders-Abramson
authors.forename: Kristen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Nadeau
authors.forename: Megan M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kelsey
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Schmiege
authors.forename: Swan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ellert
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cejka
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bhatnagar
authors.forename: Phil
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zeitler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D003120:Colorado / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D012649:Self Concept; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology