Health-Related Quality of Life and Sleep Habits of Children with Overweight or Obesity

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a major public health challenge affecting children of all ages worldwide. Being overweight or obese can have severe negative psychological impacts and a significant reduction in health-related functioning. To improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and sleep habits for children with overweight/obesity, it is important to design and implement effective interventions. Few studies have included parents as behavioral agents to improve sleep habits and quality of life in children and adolescents with overweight/obesity. METHODS: This 6-month, non-randomized, cluster-controlled trial included 166 Norwegian children aged 5-13 years with overweight/obesity and their parents. The intervention group received individual family counselling and participated in physical activity groups and nutrition courses. A frequency questionnaire was filled out by parents, and the sleep habits questionnaire (CSHQ) and Kidsscreen-10 index (proxy version) were used to assess HRQoL. RESULTS: The results indicate that, overall, the children had good HRQoL. The mean average scores for HRQoL were 50.0 (standard deviation (SD): 8.1) for the intervention group and 49.0 (SD: 10.1) for the control group, which are broadly in line with normative data. For sleep habits, the mean average score was 43.8 (SD: 11.6) for the intervention group and 45.1 (SD: 11.7) for the control group. No significant changes in HRQoL and sleep habits were reported as a result of the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The children with overweight/obesity reported overall good HRQol at baseline and somewhat worse for sleep habits than the general population. No increase in quality of life or sleep quality was found in the intervention group compared to the control group in children with overweight/obesity. KEY MESSAGES: • The HRQoL among the children with overweight/obesity was good, but there were clinically relevant challenges related to sleep. • No increase in HRQoL and sleep habits were found after the intervention.