Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39293412›Full record

ArticleObesity facts2025

Youths with Extreme Obesity: A High-Risk Group for Pain and Mental Health Impairments.

Hannah Schmidt, Ingo Menrath, Susanna Wiegand, Thomas Reinehr, Wieland Kiess, Johannes Hebebrand, Julia von Schnurbein, Reinhard W Holl, Rolf Holle, André Scherag and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Obesity facts, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Hannah SchmidtDepartment of Child and Adolescent Medicine, University Clinic Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Lübeck, Germany.
Ingo MenrathDepartment of Child and Adolescent Medicine, University Clinic Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Lübeck, Germany.
Susanna WiegandAmbulatory Obesity Center, Charité University Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Thomas ReinehrVestische Children's Hospital Datteln, University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany.
Wieland KiessDepartment of Women and Child Health, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
Johannes HebebrandDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, Duisburg, Germany.
Julia von SchnurbeinDivision of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
Reinhard W HollInstitute for Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, CAQM, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.
Rolf HolleFaculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Data Processing, Biometrics and Epidemiology (IBE), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany.
André ScheragInstitute of Medical Statistics, Computer and Data Sciences, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
Martin WabitschDivision of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
Stephanie Brandt-HeunemannDivision of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionYouths with extreme obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥40) are at increased risk for physical and mental health impairments. Nevertheless, this patient group has received little attention in research. This study aimed to analyze the pain experience and mental health impairments of youths with extreme obesity compared to those with mild and moderate obesity (BMI = 30-39.9) while also considering potential gender differences.

methodsCross-sectional data of 431 obese youths (M = 16.6 years; SD = 2.3; range = 13-25 years; 53.1% female) were analyzed. Of these, 159 (36.8%) youths had extreme obesity. Self-reported sociodemographic data, variables related to back or leg pain, depression, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were assessed with standardized questionnaires. Data were analyzed with univariate tests and logistic regression models.

resultsYouths with extreme obesity reported more pain in the last 4 weeks (p = 0.018), increased pain-related impairments in daily life (p = 0.009), more pain-related days of absence (p = 0.030), higher depression scores (p = 0.030), and reduced HRQoL (p = 0.005) compared to youths with mild and moderate obesity. The association between extreme obesity and pain in the last 4 weeks remained associated after including sociodemographic variables in the regression model. In the subgroup of youth with extreme obesity (n = 159), women (n = 83) reported more pain in the last 4 weeks (p = 0.001), higher depression scores (p < 0.001), and lower HRQoL (p < 0.001) compared to men (n = 76). The association between female gender and pain remained significant in the regression models, even after controlling for sociodemographic variables and depression.

conclusionThese findings highlight the need for standardized assessments of pain and mental health, particularly in the treatment of female youths with extreme obesity. Upcoming studies should analyze the reciprocal interactions of pain and mental health, since both are important barriers to lifestyle changes and weight loss.

Indexed as

DepressionMental HealthObesity, MorbidPainPediatric ObesityQuality of LifeAdolescentAdultBody Mass IndexCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansLogistic ModelsMaleRisk FactorsSex FactorsExtreme obesityMental healthPainYouths

Identifiers

PMID39293412
PMCPMC12017756

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.