Pilot evaluation of obesity-specific health-related quality of life following a 12-week non-randomized lifestyle intervention in youth

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL), a multifaceted construct for understanding health and healthcare outcomes, is comprised of eight domains of well-being and functioning over time and has become an essential factor in assessing outcomes for youth with obesity. Aims: To evaluate the effect of a community based, lifestyle intervention, on obesity-specific HRQOL using the Sizing Me Up (SMU) in this group of Latino and White youth. Materials and Methods: For this 12-week family and community-based intervention (ACT; Actively Changing Together), HRQOL was measured before and after the intervention concluded using the obesity-specific HRQOL tool, SMU. This study enrolled 68 youth (10.9 +/- 2 years; 54% male; 50% non-Hispanic white). Paired t-tests were used to examine the Sizing Me Up sub-scales: Emotion, Physical, Social Avoidance, Positive Attributes, Teasing, and the total score. A greater change score indicated a larger increase in quality of life sub-scale. Results: Significant improvements from baseline to follow-up were found in the total SMU (mean change = 5.27, SD 10.76, p = 0.00) and for the sub-scores of: emotion (mean change = 8.06, SD 16.85, p <= 0.00), teasing (mean change = 5.65, SD 16.79, p = 0.01), and social avoidance (mean change = 3.92, SD 11.21, p = 0.01). Conclusions: Sizing Me Up provided a clinically meaningful tool for this research study to evaluate obesity-specific HRQOL among Hispanic and non-Hispanic White youth with obesity.