Multidimensional Impact of Overweight on Quality of Life of Children and Adolescents: A Scoping Review
Abstract
Overweight in adolescents is a global health issue that has shown a significant increase in recent decades. This condition has a multidimensional impact, particularly on the physical, psychological, social aspects, and overall quality of life of adolescents. Children and adolescents who are overweight often experience body shaming, social stigma, decreased self-esteem, and social isolation, all of which can contribute to a lower quality of life. Although numerous studies have explored the relationship between being overweight and quality of life, most have focused only on physical or psychological dimensions. Many of the existing studies examine just one or two aspects of quality of life and lack a comprehensive consideration of cultural factors, developmental age, and social interactions. Objective to comprehensively review the scientific literature that examines the impact of overweight on the quality of life among adolescents. This study employed a scoping review approach based on the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Literature searches were conducted through three databases: Scopus, PubMed, and ScienceDirect, using the keywords "Overweight," "Adolescents," and "Quality of Life." The selected articles were published within the last three years (2023–2025) and met the inclusion criteria, including being written in English, open access, and relevant to the topic. A total of 15 articles were selected from an initial search result of 18,441 records. The article selection involved a multi-stage screening process, including title and abstract screening, full-text review, and assessment using inclusion and exclusion criteria. Each article was then analyzed thematically to identify patterns related to the impact of overweight on adolescents' quality of life. These studies employed qualitative and quantitative approaches, including multivariate analysis, logistic models, as well as mediation and moderation analyses. Most of the articles reported that overweight has a negative impact on adolescents’ quality of life, particularly in the physical, psychological, social, and academic functioning domains. Overweight in adolescents has a significant impact on various aspects of quality of life. These findings highlight the importance of developing multidimensional interventions that not only address physical aspects but also take into account psychosocial factors and the adolescent’s environment.
References
Aagaard, I., Jakobsen, D. D., & Bruun, J. M. (2023). Association between quality of life and emotional overeating — a cross-sectional study in Danish children attending a multicomponent lifestyle camp. European Journal of Pediatrics, 182(12), 5493–5499. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-023-05206-7
Abdullah, S. R., Victor Chee Wai, H., Ishak, Z., Hamzah, S. S., Nur Zati Iwani, A. K., Wan Mohd Zin, R. M., & Yahya, A. (2024). Factors influencing health-related quality of life of children with overweight and obesity in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, 12(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/21642850.2024.2413980
Ahmad, K., Keramat, S. A., Ormsby, G. M., Kabir, E., & Khanam, R. (2023). Clustering of lifestyle and health behaviours in Australian adolescents and associations with obesity, self-rated health and quality of life. BMC Public Health, 23(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15724-6
Azizah, D. D., Azzahra, F., Deliani, N., & Batubara, J. (2024). Risalah : Jurnal Pendidikan dan Studi Islam Dampak Perilaku Body Shaming Terhadap Psikologis Peserta Didik Tingkat Madrasah Aliyah. 10(2), 598–610.
Buratta, L., Delvecchio, E., Capurso, M., & Mazzeschi, C. (2023). Health-Related Quality of Life in Children with Overweight and Obesity: An Explorative Study Focused on School Functioning and Well-being. Continuity in Education, 4(1), 96–104. https://doi.org/10.5334/cie.58
Förster, L. J., Vogel, M., Stein, R., Hilbert, A., Breinker, J. L., Böttcher, M., Kiess, W., & Poulain, T. (2023). Mental health in children and adolescents with overweight or obesity. BMC Public Health, 23(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15032-z
Hidestrand, P., Svensson, B., Simpson, P., Liuba, P., & Weismann, C. G. (2024). Impact of Underweight, Overweight, and Obesity on Health-Related Quality of Life in Children with Tetralogy of Fallot Variants. Pediatric Cardiology, 46(2), 355–361. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-024-03416-w
Khoirunisa, N. (2023). Pengaruh Body Shaming Dan Intensitas Interaksi. 0–110.
Kirkpatrick, B. M., Porter, K. J., Reid, A. L., Brock, D., Markwalter, T. H., & Zoellner, J. M. (2024). Associations of Body Mass Index with Self-Rated Health and Weight Perceptions Among Rural Appalachian Adolescent Students. Journal of School Health, 94(4), 346–356. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.13383
Kissya, T. A., Dewi, N. S., & Andriany, M. (2024). Faktor penyebab body shaming pada remaja perempuan: scoping review. Jurnal Keperawatan, 16(2), 511–518.
Kleppang, A. L., Abildsnes, E., Haraldstad, K., & Stea, T. H. (2024). Changes in health-related quality of life and sleep habits after a 6-month non-randomised cluster-controlled trial among children with overweight or obesity. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 33(9), 3179–3187. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-024-02375-0
Lazzeri, M. F. L., Mastorci, F., Piaggi, P., Doveri, C., Marinaro, I., Trivellini, G., Casu, A., Devine, C., Ait-Ali, L., Vassalle, C., & Pingitore, A. (2023). A Close Association between Body Weight, Health-Related Quality of Life, and Risk Behaviors in a Sample of Italian High School Students. Nutrients, 15(24). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15245107
Mandefro, M., Shore, H., Hailu, S., Ayele, F., Tekola, A., Shawel, S., Kassa, O., Tamire, A., Masrie, A., Gezahegn, A., Gebru, T., Roba, K. T., & Gebremichael, B. (2024). Overweight and obesity and associated factors among public and private secondary school adolescent students in Harar city, Eastern Ethiopia: A comparative cross-sectional study. Medicine (United States), 103(21), E38271. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000038271
Marina Ródenas-Munar, Margalida Monserrat-Mesquida, S. F. G., Julia Wärnberg, María Medrano , Marcela González-Gross, Narcís Gusi, S. A., Elena Marín-Cascales, Miguel A. González-Valeiro , Lluís Serra-Majem, S. P., Marta Segu 19, Montse Fitó Silvia Torres, Juan Carlos Benavente-Marín, I. L., Augusto G. Zapico , Jesús Sánchez-Gómez, Fabio Jiménez-Zazo, P. E. A., Marta Sevilla-Sánchez , Estefanía Herrera-Ramos, Helmut Schröder, Cristina Bouzas, & Tur, and J. A. (2023). Perceived Quality of Life Is Related to a Healthy Lifestyle and Related Outcomes in Spanish Children and Adolescents: The Physical Activity, Sedentarism, and Obesity in Spanish Study. Nutrients.
Mustafa, M. S. A., Mahat, I. R., Md Shah, M. A. M., Mohd. Ali, N. A., Mohideen, R. S., & Mahzan, S. (2022). The Awareness of the Impact of Body Shaming among Youth. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 12(4). https://doi.org/10.6007/ijarbss/v12-i4/13197
Neal, J. E. (2020). Childhood Obesity and Sleep Disturbances. NASN School Nurse (Print), 30(6), 322–324. https://doi.org/10.1177/1942602X15608922
Neumark-Sztainer, D., Wall, M., Story, M., & Standish, A. R. (2022). Dieting and unhealthy weight control behaviors during adolescence: Associations with 10-year changes in body mass index. Journal of Adolescent Health, 50(1), 80–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2011.05.010
Puhl, R., & Suh, Y. (2021). Health Consequences of Weight Stigma: Implications for Obesity Prevention and Treatment. Current Obesity Reports, 4(2), 182–190. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-015-0153-z
Reinehr, T. (2019). Long-term effects of adolescent obesity: Time to act. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 14(3), 183–188. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2017.147
Sari, R. P. (2020). Hubungan body shaming dengan interaksi sosial teman sebaya. In Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah (Vol. 15, Issue 2).
Sartika, N. A., Yustiana, Y. R., & Saripah, I. (2021). Kesejahteraan Psikologis Remaja Korban Body Shaming. Psychocentrum Review, 3(2), 206–217. https://doi.org/10.26539/pcr.32721
Sawyer, M. G., Harchak, T., Wake, M., & Lynch, J. (2020). Four-year prospective study of BMI and mental health problems in young children. Pediatrics, 128(4), 677–684. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2010-3132
Sejdija, S., & Maggio, A. B. R. (2025). Exploration of motivation to be physically active among overweight adolescents in Switzerland. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 30(2), 491–501. https://doi.org/10.1177/13591045251315507
Struckmeyer, N., Biester, T., Kordonouri, O., Weiner, C., Sadeghian, E., Guntermann, C., Kapitzke, K., Weiskorn, J., Galuschka, L., von Stuelpnagel, K., Meister, D., Lange, K., Danne, T., & Reschke, F. (2023). Alterations in Dietary Behavior, Appetite Regulation, and Health-Related Quality of Life in Youth with Obesity in Germany during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Nutrients, 15(13). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15132936
UNICEF. (2021). The State of the World’s Children 2021: On My Mind – Promoting, protecting and caring for children’s mental health. https://www.unicef.org/reports/state-worlds-children-2021
Van De Pas, K. G. H., De Krom, M. A. P., Winkens, B., Van Dielen, F. M. H., & Vreugdenhil, A. C. E. (2023). Health-Related Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents with Overweight, Obesity, and Severe Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study. Obesity Facts, 16(3), 282–292. https://doi.org/10.1159/000529560
van der Voorn, B., Camfferman, R., Seidell, J. C., & Halberstadt, J. (2023). Health-related quality of life in children under treatment for overweight, obesity or severe obesity: a cross-sectional study in the Netherlands. BMC Pediatrics, 23(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-023-03973-8
WHO. (2024a). World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment (WHOQOL): Development and general psychometric properties. Social Science and Medicine, 46(12), 1569–1585. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-9536(98)00009-4
WHO. (2024b). Obesity and overweight. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight
Copyright (c) 2025 Indonesian Journal of Global Health Research
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
