ASSESSING HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY-OF-LIFE AND HEALTH STATE PREFERENCE IN PERSONS WITH OBESITY - A VALIDATION-STUDY

The objective of this study was to assess the reliability, validity an d responsiveness of a new health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) measu re containing global and obesity-specific domains and an obesity-speci fic health state preference (HSP) assessment. A total of 417 obese and 'normal' weight individuals completed these assessments. Internal con sistency and test-retest reliability were demonstrated, with Cronbach' s alpha, intraclass correlation coefficient and Ic values well above t he acceptable level for most scales. construct validity hypotheses wer e confirmed by examining scale correlations. The normal weight individ uals reported statistically significantly better functioning and well- being on the majority of the HRQOL scales and HSP than obese individua ls. Guyatt's statistic of responsiveness was moderate to high for all the scales and items in the weight-loss and weight-gain groups; howeve r, many of the scales and items in the weight-stable group also displa yed responsiveness. The results of this study support the reliability and validity of these assessments. However, further testing is needed to evaluate the responsiveness of both assessments in a weight-stable group.