Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2014 Aug 1;180(3):254-62.
doi: 10.1093/aje/kwu136. Epub 2014 Jun 24.

Changes in body weight and health-related quality of life: 2 cohorts of US women

An Pan, Ichiro Kawachi, Nan Luo, JoAnn E Manson, Walter C Willett, Frank B Hu, Olivia I Okereke

Changes in body weight and health-related quality of life: 2 cohorts of US women

An Pan et al. Am J Epidemiol. .

Abstract

Studies have shown that body weight is a determinant of health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, few studies have examined long-term weight change with changes in HRQoL. We followed 52,682 women aged 46-71 years in the Nurses' Health Study (in 1992-2000) and 52,587 women aged 29-46 years in the Nurses' Health Study II (in 1993-2001). Body weight was self-reported, HRQoL was measured by the Medical Outcomes Study's 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, and both were updated every 4 years. The relationship between changes in weight and HRQoL scores was evaluated at 4-year intervals by using a generalized linear regression model with multivariate adjustment for baseline age, ethnicity, menopausal status, and changes in comorbidities and lifestyle factors. Weight gain of 15 lbs (1 lb = 0.45 kg) or more over a 4-year period was associated with 2.05-point lower (95% confidence interval: 2.14, 1.95) physical component scores, whereas weight loss of 15 lbs or more was associated with 0.89-point higher (95% confidence interval: 0.75, 1.03) physical component scores. Inverse associations were also found between weight change and physical function, role limitations due to physical problems, bodily pain, general health, and vitality. However, the relations of weight change with mental component scores, social functioning, mental health, and role limitations due to emotional problems were small.

Keywords: body weight; health-related quality of life; prospective cohort study; women.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Fontaine KR, Barofsky I. Obesity and health-related quality of life. Obes Rev. 2001;2(3):173–182. - PubMed
    1. Kim D, Kawachi I. Obesity and health-related quality of life. In: Hu FB, editor. Obesity Epidemiology. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 2008. pp. 234–260.
    1. Ul-Haq Z, Mackay DF, Fenwick E, et al. Meta-analysis of the association between body mass index and health-related quality of life among adults, assessed by the SF-36. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2013;21(3):E322–E327. - PubMed
    1. Larsson U, Karlsson J, Sullivan M. Impact of overweight and obesity on health-related quality of life—a Swedish population study. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2002;26(3):417–424. - PubMed
    1. Bentley TG, Palta M, Paulsen AJ, et al. Race and gender associations between obesity and nine health-related quality-of-life measures. Qual Life Res. 2011;20(5):665–674. - PubMed

Publication types