Evaluation of Sociodemographic Characteristics, Psychiatric Comorbidities, and Self-Esteem in Adolescents Diagnosed with Obesity and Comparison with Control Group

Aim: The primary objective of this research was to investigate the sociodemographic profiles, prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities, and self-esteem levels among adolescents diagnosed with obesity, and to contrast these findings with those of a control group. Material and Method: This study employed a cross-sectional design involving 30 obese adolescents and 28 age- and gender-matched participants without obesity, all between the ages of 11 and 18. Data collection instruments included a structured sociodemographic questionnaire, the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children–Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). Group comparisons were made using independent samples t-tests and chi-square tests, with statistical significance defined as p<0.05. Results: No statistically significant differences were identified between the groups regarding age, sex distribution, school grade level, or academic achievement. However, the body mass index (BMI) was markedly elevated in the obese group compared to controls (p<0.001). Psychiatric diagnoses were significantly more frequent in the obesity group (60%) relative to the control group (32.1%) (p=0.034), with mood disorders and multiple psychiatric diagnoses being notably prevalent. Despite this, there were no significant group differences in mean RSES scores or self-reported self-esteem levels (p=0.290 and p=0.793, respectively). Conclusion: The findings underscore a higher rate of psychiatric comorbidity among adolescents living with obesity, suggesting that mental health evaluation and psychological support should be integral components of adolescent obesity prevention and intervention strategies.