[Psychological Parameters of Adolescent Patients Prior to Obesity Treatment]

Mental health in children and adolescents with overweight or obesity

BACKGROUND

Overweight and obesity represent huge concerns for children's physical and mental well-being. This study examined the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), somatoform complaints, and behavioral problems in children and adolescents. Additionally, the influence of sex, age, and socioeconomic status (SES) on these associations was considered.

METHODS

In total, we studied 2350 participants between the ages of 4 and 18 years (1213 4- to 10-years-old (child sample) and 1137 11-to 18-year-olds (adolescent sample)). To assess HRQoL, somatoform complaints, and behavioral difficulties, we applied the KIDSCREEN-27, a short form of the Giessen Complaints Questionnaire, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The BMI was transformed to BMI standard deviation scores (BMI-SDS), according to German gender- and age-specific reference data. Associations were investigated using linear regression analyses. Each association was checked for interaction with sex, age, and SES.

RESULTS

Regarding HRQoL, we found worsening scores in physical well-being and psychological well-being with increasing BMI-SDS. Somatoform complaints were not significantly associated with BMI-SDS. Conduct problems, peer relationship problems, and emotional problems (the latter only in the adolescent sample) were positively associated with BMI-SDS. While we did not observe any significant interactions with sex, we found some significant interactions with age and/or SES.

CONCLUSION

Our findings highlight the importance of mental difficulties in children and adolescents with higher BMI and, consequently, underline the relevance of including psychological interventions in the treatment of overweight or obesity.

Predictors of Effectiveness and Adherence in a Multimodal Obesity Treatment Program for Children and Adolescents in Routine Care

Multimodal obesity treatments for children and adolescents generally showed only small to modest treatment effects and high dropout rates. Potential variations by patients' clinical and sociodemographic factors remain, however, largely unclear. For this reason, our study analyzed psychological, physical, and sociodemographic predictors of treatment success and adherence in a multimodal obesity treatment over 12 months. The intent-to-treat sample included n = 361 children and adolescents (ages 3-17 years), of which n = 214 or 59.28% of patients completed treatment. A younger age and, in the sensitivity analysis, additionally a greater eating disorder psychopathology and treatment initiation before COVID-19 pandemic predicted greater BMI-SDS reductions (Body Mass Index-Standard Deviation Score). In contrast, predictors of treatment adherence were not found. The results underline the importance of early treatment of juvenile obesity. Additionally, eating disorder psychopathology includes restrained eating, which implies the ability to self-regulate eating behavior and therefore may have a positive effect on the treatment goal of controlled food intake. Challenges from altered treatment procedures due to the COVID-19 pandemic nonetheless remain.

[Effectiveness of an Obesity Treatment Program for Children and Adolescents in Routine Care]

Recent studies on the treatment of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents have generally considered single psychological or somatic parameters. The present study examined the efficacy of multimodal obesity treatment in routine care in N=278 children and adolescents (ages 2-17) over 12 months using comprehensive psychological and somatic parameters. The primary endpoint was the objectively measured change of BMI-SDS (Body Mass Index Standard Deviation Score). Secondary objectives included patient-reported health-related quality of life, general and eating disorder psychopathology, weight-related self-stigmatization as well as objectively measured parameters of lipoprotein and glucose metabolism and liver enzymes. At the end of treatment after 12 months, there was significant improvement in BMI-SDS (M=-0.10; SD=0.32) and single liver enzymes in the total sample whereas psychological and other blood parameters showed no significant improvement. Treatment responders showed greater BMI-SDS reductions (M=-0.44; SD=0.22) as well as similar results concerning blood and psychological parameters compared to the total sample. This multimodal obesity treatment in routine care mostly improved patients' BMI-SDS and single somatic parameters, but not psychological parameters. Patients' psychological stressors emphasize the need for psychotherapeutic treatment going beyond reduction of BMI-SDS. Furthermore, these results underline the importance of comprehensive evaluation of psychological and somatic parameters to improve treatment outcome.

Psychotherapie bei juveniler Adipositas: gerechtfertigt und sinnvoll?

Hintergrund

Adipositas ist im Kindes- und Jugendalter stark verbreitet. Medizinische Rehabilitationsmaßnahmen mit ihrem umfassenden Behandlungsangebot stellen eine wesentliche Säule der Versorgung dar. Da Adipositas mit vielfältigen psychosozialen Belastungen verbunden ist, stellt sich die Frage, ob psychotherapeutische Angebote noch stärker berücksichtigt werden sollten.

Fragestellung

Untersucht wurde, wie verbreitet psychische Auffälligkeiten bei Kindern und Jugendlichen mit Adipositas sind und in welchem Zusammenhang sie zum Gewichtsverlauf stehen.

Material und Methoden

Die Stichprobe bestand aus 220 Kindern und Jugendlichen mit Adipositas (8 bis 16 Jahre, M = 13,11 Jahre; SD ± 1,88 Jahre; 54,5 % weiblich), die an einer stationären Rehabilitationsmaßnahme teilnahmen. Emotionale- und Verhaltensauffälligkeiten (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, SDQ) wurden zu Rehabilitationsbeginn sowie 6 und 12 Monate nach Rehabilitationsende im Elternbericht erfasst. Zudem wurden Daten zur Bestimmung des Gewichtstatus durch das medizinische Personal der Kliniken bzw. in der Katamnese von Hausärzten erhoben.

Ergebnisse

Fast die Hälfte der Kinder und Jugendlichen (48,6 %) wies auffällige Werte auf; v. a. Mädchen waren signifikant häufiger betroffen. Die deskriptive Betrachtung nach Rehabilitationsende zeigte einen vergleichbar hohen Anteil. Zudem wirkte sich das Vorliegen psychosozialer Auffälligkeiten signifikant negativ auf den Gewichtsverlauf aus.

Schlussfolgerung

Psychische Probleme sollten im Rahmen der Adipositastherapie stärker berücksichtigt werden. Zum einen sollten evtl. belastete Kinder durch Screenings identifiziert werden, zum anderen psychotherapeutische Maßnahmen zur Reduktion psychosozialer Belastungen integraler Bestandteil der Behandlung sein.