GYNECOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOSOCIAL RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH OBESITY IN ADOLESCENT GIRLS

Background: There has been an increase in childhood and adolescent obesity worldwide, which affects the girls resulting low self-esteem and depression and diminishes health- related quality of life. The overweight and obese teenage girls are more likely to have gynaecologic and obstetric complications during adolescence and later in life. Objective: To determine gynaecological and psychosocial risk factors associated with obesity in adolescent girls. Methods: A cross sectional study conducted at schools and colleges of Islamabad and Rawalpindi with a sample size of n=99. The participants were divided into two groups of which n=25 were obese adolescents (cases) and n=74 were non-obese adolescents (controls). The Data collection was done based on self-structured questionnaire from adolescent females aged 10 to 19 years in cases with BMI >27.5kg/m2 in controls 18.5 to 23kg/m2. The study duration was 6 months from (October- 2020 to March- 2021). Study was conducted in various school and colleges of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. To determine the association odds ratio (OR) was calculated. Results: The mean age of the cases was 16.2±2.10 years and 14.78±1.82 years for controls. The BMI of cases was 29.38±1.97 kg/m2 and a control was 18.06±2.88 kg/m2. In gynaecological risk factors cases are more at risk to have excessive acne/pimple on face (Odds ratio: 3.484, p= 0.008), more likely to experience amenorrhea (OR: 4.504, p= 0.007) and more likely to have excessive facial/abdominal hair growth (OR: 3.600, p=0.014). For psychosocial risk factors the cases presented with a greater need/referral of a psychological evaluation (OR: 4.063, p=0.008) and feel social limitation or emotional disturbance (OR: 2.561, p=0.044). Conclusion: It was concluded that certain gynaecological and psychosocial determinants could be influenced by adolescent obesity leading to many complications and negative consequences on present and future health outcomes. Key words: adolescents, females, gynaecologic, obesity, overweight, quality of life