PurposeTo explore relationships of socio-demographic variables, health behaviours, environmental characteristics and personal factors, with physical and mental health variables in persons with morbid obesity, and to compare their health-related quality of life (HRQoL) scores with scores from the general population.MethodsA cross-sectional correlation study design was used. Data were collected by self-reported questionnaire from adult patients within the first 2 days of commencement of a mandatory educational course. Of 185 course attendees, 142 (76.8%) volunteered to participate in the study. Valid responses on all items were recorded for 128 participants. HRQoL was measured with the Short Form 12v2 from which physical (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores were computed. Other standardized instruments measured regular physical activity, social support, self-esteem, sense of coherence, self-efficacy and coping style.ResultsRespondents scored lower on all the HRQoL sub-domains compared with norms. Linear regression analyses showed that personal factors that included self-esteem, self-efficacy, sense of coherence and coping style explained 3.6% of the variance in PCS scores and 41.6% in MCS scores.ConclusionPersonal factors such as self-esteem, sense of coherence and a high approaching coping style are strongly related to mental health in obese persons.

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Persons with morbid obesity had increased self-efficacy and selfesteem after patient education Background: Patient education providing positive results with regard to persons' coping with chronic illness is important to decrease the demand on health care services. Methods aimed at strengthening the person's self-perception may be an important supplement to medical treatment.Objective: To explore changes in self-efficacy and self-esteem one year after completing patient education.Method: Participants in patient courses for morbid obese persons at three different sites answered 12 questionnaires five times in 2009. This article presents results from questionnaires on self-efficacy and self-esteem completed on the first day of the course and 12 months after course completion. Results:From 185 course participants, 142 returned questionnaires the first day of the course and 67 completed it after one year. Mean age was 43.3, 75% female; 64% had less than 12 years of education; no statistically significant differences were found between women and men. The participants had increased scores on self-efficacy and selfesteem after one year. The results were both statistically and clinically significant. Conclusion:Courses providing basic knowledge about the illness and methods to strengthen perception of self may contribute to improved self-efficacy and self-esteem. The results are in accordance with international research on coping with illness.

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