Anna Björk1, Jovanna Dahlgren1,2, Eva Gronowitz1,2, Fanny Henriksson Wessely2, Annika Janson3,4, My Engström5,6, Lovisa Sjögren1,2, Torsten Olbers7, Kajsa Järvholm1,8. 1. Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. 2. Department of Pediatrics, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. 3. National Childhood Obesity Centre, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. 4. Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. 5. Department of Surgery, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. 6. Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. 7. Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences and Wallenberg Centre for Metabolic Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. 8. Department of Psychology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Abstract
AIM: To assess the prevalence of neurodevelopmental problems in adolescents with severe obesity and their associations with binge eating and depression. METHODS: Data were collected at inclusion in a randomised study of bariatric surgery in 48 adolescents (73% girls; mean age 15.7 ± 1.0 years; mean body mass index 42.6 ± 5.2 kg/m2 ). Parents completed questionnaires assessing their adolescents' symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder and reported earlier diagnoses. Patients answered self-report questionnaires on binge eating and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: The parents of 26/48 adolescents (54%) reported scores above cut-off for symptoms of the targeted disorders in their adolescents, but only 15% reported a diagnosis, 32% of adolescents reported binge eating, and 20% reported symptoms of clinical depression. No significant associations were found between neurodevelopmental problems and binge eating or depressive symptoms. Only a third of the adolescents reported no problems in either area. CONCLUSION: Two thirds of adolescents seeking surgical weight loss presented with substantial mental health problems (reported by themselves or their parents). This illustrates the importance of a multi-professional approach and the need to screen for and treat mental health disorders in adolescents with obesity.
AIM: To assess the prevalence of neurodevelopmental problems in adolescents with severe obesity and their associations with binge eating and depression. METHODS: Data were collected at inclusion in a randomised study of bariatric surgery in 48 adolescents (73% girls; mean age 15.7 ± 1.0 years; mean body mass index 42.6 ± 5.2 kg/m2 ). Parents completed questionnaires assessing their adolescents' symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder and reported earlier diagnoses. Patients answered self-report questionnaires on binge eating and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: The parents of 26/48 adolescents (54%) reported scores above cut-off for symptoms of the targeted disorders in their adolescents, but only 15% reported a diagnosis, 32% of adolescents reported binge eating, and 20% reported symptoms of clinical depression. No significant associations were found between neurodevelopmental problems and binge eating or depressive symptoms. Only a third of the adolescents reported no problems in either area. CONCLUSION: Two thirds of adolescents seeking surgical weight loss presented with substantial mental health problems (reported by themselves or their parents). This illustrates the importance of a multi-professional approach and the need to screen for and treat mental health disorders in adolescents with obesity.