Role of adipokines FGF21, leptin and adiponectin in self-concept of youths with obesity

The mechanisms by which obesity increases the risk of psychosocial disorders remain unclear. We aimed at exploring the association between obesity and self-concept in Chinese youths and the role of adipokines. Data for 559 participants (aged 14-28 years) were analyzed. Self-concept was assessed by utilizing the Self-Description Questionnaire II (SDQ-II). Subjects with obesity had higher leptin, FGF21 and lower adiponectin levels (all p < 0.001). They also had lower SDQ-II scores especially in the domains of general school, physical abilities, physical appearance and opposite-sex relations (all p < 0.001). Both elevated FGF21 and leptin were correlated with lower scores in math (p < 0.01), physical abilities (p < 0.01), and opposite-sex relations (p < 0.05), meanwhile FGF21 negatively correlated with the scores in general school and honesty/trustworthiness, and leptin negatively correlated with physical appearance (p < 0.01) but positively with verbal (p < 0.01). In contrast, decreased adiponectin was correlated with poorer physical abilities (p < 0.05), physical appearance (p < 0.05), and parent relations (p < 0.01). Moreover, these associations of leptin, FGF21 and adiponectin with certain domains remained significant after adjustment for BMI and other metabolic confounders. In conclusion, youths with obesity experienced poorly on self-concept, and these associations may be explained in part by adipokines leptin, FGF21 and adiponectin.