Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-Kids
(IWQOL-Kids^©‡§)

The IWQOL-Kids is a newly developed instrument, modeled after the IWQOL-Lite and designed for use by adolescents aged 11 to 19. Each item begins with the phrase, "Because of my weight," and contains five response options, ranging from "always true" to "never true."

Characteristics of the IWQOL-Kids:

• 27 items
• In addition to a total score, there are scores on four domains:
  • Physical Comfort
  • Body Esteem
  • Social Life
  • Family Relations
• Good internal consistency (ranging from 0.88 to 0.95 for scales, and equal to 0.96 for total score)
• Sensitive to differences among BMI groups and between clinical and community samples
• Responsive to weight loss/social support intervention
• Listed in the On-Line Guide to Quality-of Life-Assessment (OLGA)
• Listed in the Patient-Reported Outcome and Quality of Life Instruments Database PROQOLID
• Listed in Suggestions for the Pre-surgical Psychological Assessment of Bariatric Surgery Candidates
• Available in a parent-proxy form
• Translated into Dutch, Malay, Portuguese, and Spanish

IWQOL-Kids Publications

Nadeau K., Kolotkin R.L., Boex R., Witten T., McFann K.K., Zeitler P., Walders-Abramson N. Health-related quality of life in adolescents with comorbidities related to obesity. Journal of Adolescent Health, 2011 Jul; 49(1): 90-2.

Modi A.C., Zeller M.H. The IWQOL-Kids(©): Establishing minimal clinically important difference scores and test-retest reliability. International Journal of Pediatric Obesity, 2011 Jun; 6(2-2): e94-6.

Wouters E.J.M., Geenen R., Kolotkin R.L., Vingerhoets A.J.J.M. Met lichaamsgewicht samenhangende kwaliteit van leven bij adolescenten (2010). Psychometrische kwaliteit van de Nederlandse vertaling van de IWQOL-Kids. Tijdschrift voor kindergeneeskunde 78, 119-125.

de Beer M., Gemke R.J. Health-Related Quality of Life in Obese Children and Adolescents, 2010. In: Handbook of Disease Burdens and Quality of Life Measures, Preedy V.R., Watson R.R., editors. Springer-Verlag, New York, NY.

Quittner A.L., Cruz I., Modi A.C., Marciel K.K. Health-Related Quality of Life Instruments for Adolescents with Chronic Diseases, 2009. In: Behavioral Approaches to Chronic Disease in Adolescence: A Guide to Integrative Care, O'Donohue W.T., editor. Springer-Verlag, New York, NY.

Zeller M.H., Modi A.C., Noll J.G., Long J.D., Inge T.H. Psychosocial Functioning Improves Following Adolescent Bariatric Surgery. Obesity (Silver Spring), 2009; 17, 985-990.

Quinlan N.P., Kolotkin R.L., Fuemmeler B.F., Costanzo P.R. Psychosocial outcomes in a weight loss camp for overweight youth. International Journal of Pediatric Obesity, 2009; 4, 134-142.

Modi A.C., Loux T.J., Bell S.K., Harmon C.M., Inge T.H., Zeller M.H. Weight-specific health-related quality of life in adolescents with extreme obesity. Obesity, 2008; 16: 2266-2271.

Kolotkin R.L., Zeller M., Modi A.C., Samsa G.P., Quinlan N.P., Yanovski J.A., Bell S.K., Maahs D.M., Gonzales de Serna D., Roehrig H.R. Assessing weight-related quality of life in adolescents. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2006; 14: 448-457.

More Information

For more information about the IWQOL-Kids, please contact rkolotkin@qualityoflifeconsulting.com.

‡ Copyright © Ronette L. Kolotkin and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Items for the IWQOL-Kids were developed by Ronette L. Kolotkin, Meg Zeller, and Helmut Roehrig.

§ Kolotkin RL, Zeller, M, Modi, AC, Samsa, GP, Quinlan, NP, Yanovski, JA, Bell, SK, Maahs DM, Gonzales de Serna, D, Roehrig, HR. Assessing weight-related quality of life in adolescents. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2006; 14: 448-457.