Recorded presentation

Donald L Patrick, PhD, MSPH¹, Tari Topolski, PhD¹, and Debra Lochner Doyle, MS, CGC². (1) Center for Disability Policy and Research/Seattle Quality of Life Group, University of Washington, 146 N Canal Street #313, Seattle, WA 98103, (206) 616-2981, donald@u.washington.edu, (2) Genetics Services, Washington State Department of Health, 20435 72nd Ave. S., Suite #200 MS:K17-8, Kent, WA 98032

Background: Obesity is increasing in the population, especially among youth. Reducing the number of youth who are overweight or obese is a Healthy People 2010 priority. For youth with disabilities, obesity is a particular problem of public health importance as these youth are already at increased risk for secondary conditions, low self esteem, and social stigmatization. These factors, which reduce quality of life, may be compounded by being overweight or obese. Methods: In 2002 the Youth Quality of Life Instrument Surveillance Module (YQOL-S) was fielded with the Youth Disability Screener on the Washington State Healthy Youth Survey. Data were analyzed to examine risk for being overweight or obese (BMI Ан 85th or Ан 95th percentile for age and gender), for having a self-reported disability and level of perceived quality of life. Results. 23% of all youth had BMI scores in the upper 85th percentile, and (22%) self-reported having a disability. Youth with disabilities were 1.3 times more likely to be obese than their non-disabled peers. Youth with disabilities scored in the lowest quartile on the YQOL-S, significantly lower than their obese non-disabled peers. Additionally, obese youth with disabilities scored lower than normal-weight youth with disabilities. Conclusions. Having a disability was associated with greater risk of being obese and of having a lower quality of life. To address this dual disadvantage, targeted interventions should be developed with the participation of the youth themselves.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the risk for overweight\obesity among youth with disabilities in Washington State and relate these data to national risk levels;
• Describe the quality of life of obese youth with and without disabilities vs. non-obese youth with and without disabilities.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Occupational Disease

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation