title: Association of depression & health related quality of life with body composition in children and youth with obesity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is an increasing recognition of the relationship between mental illness and obesity in the pediatric population. Our objective was to explore the individual, biological and family determinants of depressive symptoms and HRQOL in youth with obesity in a clinical setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 244 youth aged 8-17 years at the time of entry to a weight management program. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children questionnaire, with a score of ≥15 or antidepressant use indicating depression. HRQOL was examined using the PedsQL4.0. We considered the influence of age, sex, health history, anthropometry, body fat, family health and socioeconomic status (SES) on depression and HRQOL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Depression was common in this population (36.4%). In multivariate analysis, the extent of obesity (body fat) predicted both depression (OR 1.1 (1.0-1.2); p=0.05) and low HRQOL scores (β -0.63 (p<0.001)). Family SES was an important predictor of depression but not of HRQOL. In contrast to population-based studies, sex, age, pubertal status and family history of depression did not predict depressive symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As this study included children and adolescents seeking obesity treatment, results may not be generalizable to the general population of obese youth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depression and low HRQOL are common in youth entering weight management programs. Extent of obesity predicted depressive symptoms and low HRQOL. Predictors of depression in this population differ from non-obese populations studied. It is important to consider these characteristics to assist clinicians in identifying these children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada L8N 3Z5; Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton Health Sciences, Canada. Electronic address: kmorrison@mcmaster.ca.
authors.forename: Katherine M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada L8N 3Z5.
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada L8N 3Z5.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tarnopolsky
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Valerie H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001823:Body Composition; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adiposity; Adolescent; Child; Depression; Obesity; Quality of life