Weight-specific quality of life and nutritional status of adolescents in northeastern of Mexico

Introduction: overweight and obesity in adolescents are related to psychological consequences, so it is important to explore the variable of weight-specific quality of life in this population. Objective: to examine the differences in the weight-specific quality of life of adolescents according to their nutritional status in northeastern Mexico. Method: 104 adolescents participated. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire that included measures of weight-specific quality of life. Height, weight and body mass index (BMI) were measured. Results: 53,8 % of the participants were male (n=56), 16,34 % (n=17) were overweight and 31,7 % (n=33) had some degree of obesity. Of the overweight-obese adolescents, 56,7 % reported a lower quality of life with respect to their weight (Cramer's V = 0.142, p = 0.352). In general, it was found that adolescents more frequently reported a lower quality of life (73,2 %) with respect to their weight. Conclusions: in his sample Mexican adolescents, overweight and obesity was associated with significantly lower weight-specific quality of life. Interventions that integrate strategies for emotional self-care related to body weight are recommended.