Associations Between Physical Fitness and Health-Related Quality of Life in Children with Obesity

Abstract

Obesity is associated with multiple comorbidities and therefore requires a multidisciplinary approach. Particular attention is given to the role of visceral adiposity and its impact on quality of life. Childhood obesity, in particular, is a major global public health challenge with physical, psychological, and social consequences extending into adulthood. Within the framework of personalized medicine, assessing physical fitness and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) offers valuable insight for defining individualized therapeutic goals. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between physical fitness and HRQoL in children with simple obesity and to highlight the potential value of personalized approaches in pediatric obesity management. Methods: This study included 123 patients aged 8–16 years with simple obesity who were hospitalized at the Children’s Memorial Health Institute in Warsaw. Obesity was diagnosed according to CDC growth charts (OLAF study). Physical fitness was assessed using the EUROFIT test battery (8 trials), and HRQoL was measured with the Kidscreen-52 questionnaire (10 domains). Results: The overall EUROFIT test performance in the study group was significantly lower compared with population norms (p < 0.001). Similarly, HRQoL scores reported by both children and their parents were significantly below reference values (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Reduced physical fitness is strongly associated with impaired quality of life in children with obesity. Personalized interventions aimed at improving motor performance may represent an effective strategy in the prevention and treatment of pediatric obesity.