Bodyweight, gender, and quality of life: A population-based longitudinal study

Rochelle E. Garner, David H. Feeny, Amanda Thompson, Julie Bernier, Bentson H. McFarland, Nathalie Huguet, Mark S. Kaplan, Heather Orpana, Nancy A. Ross, Chris Blanchard

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: The objective of the paper is to describe trajectories of health-related quality of life (HRQL) associated with categories of body mass index (BMI): underweight, normal weight, overweight, obese class I, and obese classes II and III. Methods: Data come from the longitudinal Canadian National Population Health Survey. Analyses are based on data for 3,864 men and 4,745 women who were 40? in 1998/1999 and followed through 2006/2007. HRQL was measured with the Health Utilities Index Mark 3. Multilevel growth modeling was used. Results: HRQL declined with age. For men, there was a large HRQL decrement for being underweight; trajectories for all other BMI categories were very similar. For women being underweight was associated with higher HRQL at younger ages but lower at older ages. Otherwise, for women, HRQL was ordered from highest to lowest: normal, overweight, obese class I, and obese classes II and III. Conclusions: Given that excess weight is a risk factor for mortality and the development of chronic conditions, the HRQL results for men are surprising. The HRQL results for women may reflect both the importance of body image on mental health and the health effects of excess weight.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)813-825
Number of pages13
JournalQuality of Life Research
Volume21
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2012

Keywords

  • Body mass index
  • Health Utilities Index
  • Health-related quality of life
  • Obesity
  • Trajectories

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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