Oral Presentation ESA-SRB-ANZOS 2025 in conjunction with ENSA

Evaluating the feasibility of mental health screening in adolescents presenting for obesity treatment (128674)

Hannah Melville 1 , Gina Chen 2 , Laurye Birrell 2 , Alicia Grunseit 2 , Natalie B Lister 1 , Sarah P Garnett 1 3 , Louise A Baur 1 2 , Shirley Alexander 2 , Hiba Jebeile 1
  1. Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  2. Weight management services, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  3. Kids Research, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia

The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of mental health screening in adolescents presenting to a tertiary weight management program.

This service improvement initiative included data collected between October 2022 to June 2025 from adolescents, 13-17 years, presenting to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead multidisciplinary weight management program. Questionnaires were administered using an iPad, and included Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (scores 10-40), Severity Measure for Depression (scores 0-27; severe scores ≥20), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (scores 0-21; moderately severe/severe scores ≥15), Pediatric Quality of Life (scores 0-100), and Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (scores 0-6; cut-off ≥2.7). Caregivers completed Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (scores 0-42; severe scores: Depression ≥21, Anxiety ≥15, Stress ≥26). Descriptive statistics were reported as median (interquartile ranges, IQR), with cut-offs calculated using counts and percentages.

Of 98 adolescents who presented, 45 completed screening (47% female; 15% Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander). The most common reasons for non-completion were telehealth integration barriers (n=25) and missed appointments (n=8). The median (IQR) score for self-esteem was 27.0 (3.0), quality of life 63 (33.7), depression symptoms 9.0 (10.0) with 20.5% scores ≥15, anxiety symptoms 6.5 (10.0) with 20.5% scores ≥15. For eating disorder risk, the score was 2.40 (1.7) with 41.9% scores ≥2.7, however, this cut-off is not well validated and should be cautiously interpreted. In caregivers, median score was 4.0 (10.0) for depression symptoms (5.4% scores ≥21), 4.0 (10.0) for anxiety symptoms (8.1% scores ≥16), and 10.0 (12.0) for stress symptoms (5.4% scores ≥26).

Half of adolescents presenting for weight management were unable to complete mental health screening.  Barriers including telehealth integration must be addressed to facilitate screening. One in five adolescents presented with symptoms of depression or anxiety and 40% required further assessment for disordered eating. These results highlight the need for mental health screening to guide appropriate care pathways.