Diversity of sleep quality, eating behavior, emotional and behavioral characteristics in adolescent boys with obesity

Introduction. Obesity is a pressing public health issue. An important task is the study of individual clinical variants of obesity in specific patient groups, including adolescent boys.

Aim. To study the heterogeneity of sleep quality indicators, emotional and behavioral characteristics, and eating behavior in adolescent boys with obesity.

Materials and methods. The study included 164 adolescents aged 14–17, comprising 137 with obesity (E66.0, ICD-10) and 27 healthy controls. Sleep quality was assessed using the Adolescent Sleep-Wake Scale (ASWS). Behavioral and emotional disorders were evaluated using the Achenbach questionnaire (Youth Self Report, YSR 11-18). Eating behavior was assessed using the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ).

Results. Six distinct clusters were identified: (1) adolescents with thought problems and high aggression; (2) children with sleep and eating disorders, low social adaptation, and high aggression; (3) adolescents without significant issues; (4) socially adapted adolescents with internalized problems and emotional eating; (5) adolescents with eating disorders, deviant behavior, and aggression; and (6) socially adapted adolescents with restrictive eating behavior. Healthy adolescents predominantly belonged to the third cluster, while adolescents with obesity showed diverse cluster representation. Assignment to any cluster other than the third was a significant predictor of increased BMI z-score.

Conclusion. The study revealed significant differences in emotional and behavioral characteristics among adolescents with obesity, emphasizing the importance of considering these factors when selecting treatment approaches.

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