Body weight and quality of life among adolescents in Krakow.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between body weight and the quality of life among adolescents in Krakow, Poland.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study comprised 1291 pupils - 632 girls and 659 boys from 17 Krakow middle schools. Their quality of life (QoL) was assessed by means of the Polish version of the KIDSCREEN-27 questionnaire. Five dimensions of QoL were analyzed as low, average and high QoL according to Polish cut-off points. The body mass index (BMI) of the adolescents was classified as underweight, normal weight, or excessive weight according to Polish growth charts.

RESULTS: Low QoL was observed significantly more often in girls than in boys. Excessive weight among both girls and boys was found to be a risk factor for low QoL in the "Physical Well-being" dimension as compared to normal weight adolescents. Additionally, boys with excessive weight had a two-fold higher risk of low QoL in the "Social Support % Peers" dimension (OR=2.00; 95%CI:1.14-3.50). Underweight was associated with higher risk of low QoL in the "Physical Well-being", "Autonomy & Parents", and "Social Support % Peers" dimensions, but only among boys.

CONCLUSIONS: Both, underweight and excessive weight were associated with low QoL. Excessive weight in youth was linked mainly with lower physical well-being. Underweight was a predictor of low QoL only among boys in the dimensions related to physical health, as well as relations with family and peers.