HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY-OF-LIFE IN OBESE PERSONS SEEKING TREATMENT

BACKGROUND. The relationship between obesity and increased risks of mo rbidity and mortality is well established. Less is known about the imp act of obesity on functional health status and subjective well-being. METHODS. We examined health-related quality of life (HRQL), measured b y the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36), and clinical characteristics of 312 consecutive persons seeking outpatient treatment for obesity at a university-based weight management center, SF-36 scores were adjusted for sociodemographic factors and various c omorbidities, including depression, to better estimate the effect of o besity on HRQL, Health-related quality of life of the obese patients w as then compared with that of the general population and with a sample of patients who have other chronic medical conditions. RESULTS. Compa red with general population norms, participants who had a mean body-ma ss index (BMI) of 38.1 reported significantly lower scores (ie,more im pairment) on all eight quality-of-life domains, especially bodily pain and vitality. The morbidly obese (mean BMI, 48.7) reported significan tly worse physical, social, and role functioning, worse perceived gene ral health, and greater bodily pain than did either the mildly (mean B MI, 29.2) or moderately to severely obese (mean BMI, 34.5). The obese also reported significantly greater disability due to bodily pain than did patients with other chronic medical conditions. CONCLUSIONS. Obes ity profoundly affects quality of life. Bodily pain is a prevalent pro blem among obese persons seeking weight loss and may be an important c onsideration in the treatment of this population.