Development of a disease-specific interview for the determination of the quality of life of obese children and adolescents

In the literature, the discussion concerning the importance and extent of p sychosocial burden as a result of obesity has been controversial. There is however consensus that quality of life limitations are more significant tha n clinical psychiatric handicaps (i.e. the performance of numerous everyday activities). To date, there is no information available regarding the qual ity of life of obese teenagers nor are there suitable measuring instruments for quality of life. This article deals with the development of such an in strument. During a stationary rehabilitation programme, 54 obese children and teenage rs, from the ages of I I to 16, were interviewed using a standardised disea se-specific method. To examine the convergent and discriminant validity the "Munich questionnaire of quality of life for children" (KINDL; Bullinger, von Mackensen & Kirchberger, 1994) and Schauder's (1991) self-esteem questi onnaire were used. The main concern expressed by the children and teenagers were handicaps in performing physical activities. The results indicate tha t the interview technique enables the quality of life of obese children and teenagers to be registered validly and sensitively. Sensitivity tests of t he method have yet to be formulated.