Factors Influencing Health-Related Quality of Life of Overweight and Obese Children in South Korea

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify factors influencing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of overweight and obese children in Korea. This study employed a cross-sectional descriptive study design. A total of 132 overweight and obese children participated in the study. Anthropometric measurements included body mass index, percent body fat, and waist-hip ratio. The instruments included lifestyle patterns, psychosocial characteristics (stress, self-esteem, and depression), and HRQoL. The study found that significant predictors of HRQoL included self-esteem, depression, and physical stress; these variables accounted for 58.7% of the variance (p < .05), while children with low monthly household income had significantly lower HRQoL, compared with that of their counterparts (p < .05). HRQoL has multiple dimensions, thus, in addition to lifestyle change, health programs for overweight and obese children should focus on psychological health, and consider social and environmental factors as well.

Epidemiology of Childhood Obesity in Korea

“…Obese Korean children are often troubled with body dissatisfaction, which can lead to lower self-esteem and depression [71]. The psychological stress and depression caused by obesity are also associated with a poor health-related quality of life [72]. Furthermore, body dissatisfaction contributes to suicidal ideation in adolescents based upon a large and nationally representative sample of Korean adolescents [73].…”

Abdominal Subcutaneous Fat Thickness Measured by Ultrasonography Correlates with Hyperlipidemia and Steatohepatitis in Obese Children

“…Childhood obesity can cause many complications such as hyperlipidemia and steatohepatitis at an early age. It may also lead to obesity in adulthood and thereby result in many lifestyle diseases [ 3 4 ] and affect quality of life [ 5 6 ]. Lee et al [ 7 ] reported that 28.3% and 16.7% of obese children have above normal levels of serum triglycerides and total cholesterol, respectively.…”

Influence of specific individual and environmental variables on the relationship between body mass index and health-related quality of life in overweight and obese adolescents

“…As adolescents transition from childhood to adulthood, they are at particular risk for depression, declining body imagine, and low self-esteem, so it is important to examine HRQOL in the context of obesity and obesity interventions in this population [15–17]. Previous research with children and adolescents has found that depression and lower self-esteem are negatively related to HRQOL [18, 19]. Body image dissatisfaction also has been correlated with low QOL scores, and there is a negative association with overweight and obesity and body image [20, 21].…”