Obesity and health-related quality of life: a cross-sectional analysis of the US population

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and health-related quality-of-life (HRQL), in the presence of dietary controls and/or exercise in a national sample in the United States. METHODS: BMI and its association with HRQL domains (physical, mental and activity limitations) were examined using the Centers' for Disease Control and Prevention's 2000 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillence System (BRFSS) data, after adjusting for various sociodemographic factors, self-reported health-status, and diet/exercise behavior. RESULTS: Based on World Health Organization's (WHO) classification of obesity, the study sample (N ¼ 182 372) included approximately 43.7% nonoverweight, 36% overweight, 14% obese, and 7% severely obese respondents. Exercise and dietary modifications were used by 17.5% of overweight, 15.2% of obese, and 12.5% of severely obese individuals. Logistic regression results using nonoverweight BMI as the reference category showed that severely obese (OR ¼ 1.87, 95% CI 1.64-2.12) and obese (OR ¼ 1.21, 95% CI 1.09-1.33) were more likely to experience greater than 14 unhealthy days affecting the physical health domain. Severely obese (OR ¼ 1.41, 95% CI 1.26-1.59) and obese (OR ¼ 1.17, 95% CI 1.07-1.28) were also more likely to experience greater than 14 unhealthy days affecting the mental health domain. Similarly, severely obese (OR ¼ 1.73, 95% CI 1.50-1.99) and obese (OR ¼ 1.22, 95% CI 1.08-1.37) were more likely to experience greater than 14 days with activity limitations. Exercise and dietary controls were associated with better HRQL across all three domains. CONCLUSION: The study highlights the relationship between BMI and HRQL in the United States. The study also underlines the positive correlation of exercise and dietary modifications with HRQL.

Secondary complications and subjective well-being in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury: associations with self-reported adiposity

“…Increased adiposity has been associated with poorer measures of SWB, including physical and psychological well-being in the able-bodied population. 29 We observed that individuals with SCI who considered themselves to be overweight reported less satisfaction with life and greater depressive symptoms than individuals who did not consider themselves to be overweight. One plausible explanation for these findings is that individuals with SCI who reported being overweight may have encountered greater limitations in accomplishing activities of daily living or community integration, therefore, becoming less satisfied with their life and experiencing more feelings of depression.…”

The relationship of excess body weight and health-related quality of life: evidence from a population study in Taiwan

“…Some studies have suggested that obesity is associated with impaired mental HRQOL. [18][19][20][21][22] However, other studies do not support this association, 14,15,17,23,24 and a few have even reported better mental health among people with excess body weight. [25][26][27][28] The discordant results from these studies may be due in part to methodological limitations.…”

Long-Term Physical Activity Patterns and Health-Related Quality of Life in U.S. Women

“…[6][7][8][9] In other crosssectional analyses, physically active individuals reported fewer unhealthy days (physical or mental), 10-12 though this finding is not universal. 13 Cross-sectional research also suggests physical activity is associated with greater well-being, successful aging and improved global quality of life, 4, 14-16 though some studies have found no association. 17, 18 The equivocal results may be due to differences in research design and the small sample sizes employed in some studies.…”