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Is Body Mass Index or Percent Body Fat a Stronger Predictor of Health-Related Quality of Life in Rural Hispanic Youth?

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Abstract

The objective of the present study was to assess whether Body Mass Index or percent body fat was a stronger predictor of health-related quality of life in a community sample of rural Hispanic youth. The sample consisted of 219 Hispanic children and adolescents ages 8–19 years (54.8 % female). Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted with demographics and obesity indicators (BMI, percent body fat) entered as independent variables. Each subscale and summary score of the PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales was a separate dependent variable. Greater percent body fat was associated with lower social functioning in our sample of rural Hispanic youth. BMI percentile was not significantly associated with any of the PedsQL domains. These findings indicate that percent body fat may be more strongly associated with psychosocial functioning than BMI percentile in rural Hispanic youth.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97334, Waco, TX, 76798, USA

    Danielle Young & Christine A. Limbers

  2. Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, Kingsville, TX, USA

    G. Richard Grimes

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  1. Danielle Young
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  2. Christine A. Limbers
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  3. G. Richard Grimes
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Correspondence to Christine A. Limbers.

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Young, D., Limbers, C.A. & Grimes, G.R. Is Body Mass Index or Percent Body Fat a Stronger Predictor of Health-Related Quality of Life in Rural Hispanic Youth?. Applied Research Quality Life 8, 519–529 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-012-9206-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-012-9206-6

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