A structural equation modeling associating obesity and body dissatisfaction with health-related biopsychosocial parameters in adolescents

This cross-sectional study investigated the associations of obesity and body dissatisfaction (BD) with health-related biopsychosocial parameters in adolescents, and the magnitude of these associations. The sample was composed of 239 overweight/obese adolescents aged between 15 and 18 years. Data was analyzed by means of a structural equation model, composed of obesity as the exogenous variable and five endogenous variables: BD, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), physical fitness (PF), readiness for behavior change (RBC), and eating habits. The model adjustment indicators were considered adequate (RMSEA = .03, chi 2(df) = 124.6(94), CFI = .96, TLI = .95, GFI = .94). We identified a direct and negative relationship between obesity and BD (r = -.698, p < .001), and a direct relationship between these variables and HRQoL (Obesity: r = -.539, p < .001; BD: r = -.563, p < .001), PF (Obesity: r = -.424, p = .015; BD: r = -.393, p = .020), RBC (Obesity: r = -.445, p = .10; BD: r = -.448, p = .007), and eating habits (Obesity: r = .311, p = .032; BD: r = .363, p = .028). BD seems to play an important mediating role in health-related biopsychosocial parameters in adolescents. In addition, the negative consequences of BD on HRQoL, PF, eating habits and RBC appear to occur in a similar magnitude to those caused by obesity itself.

Automated summary

This cross-sectional study investigated the associations between obesity, body dissatisfaction, and health-related biopsychosocial parameters in adolescents. The results showed that body dissatisfaction plays an important mediating role in the health-related parameters, with similar negative consequences on quality of life, physical fitness, eating habits, and readiness for behavior change as obesity itself.