Health-related quality of life in people with overweigh and large waist circumference

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The relationship between abnormal body fat distribution and increased risks of morbidity and mortality is well established. Less is known about the impact on functional health status and subjective well-being. This study quantified the association between body fatness and health-related quality of life. METHODS: Health-related quality of life was measured by Catholic Medical Center Health Survey(CMCHS) V1.0. Tertiles of body mass index(BMI) and waist circumference in 484 adult persons visiting a university hospital-based Health Screening Center were compared. To estimate the relative risks of poor health in those with high BMI and large waist circumference, odds ratio and 95% confidence interval(CI) were determined by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Compared with the reference group (subjects with waist circumference in the lowest tertile), the odds ratios for men with waist circumference in tertile 3 were 2.24 (95% CI1.15-4.36) for social function, and 2.5(95% CI1.02-6.11) for change in health. Women in tertile 3 had odds ratio of 3.23(95% CI1.05-9.97) for bodily pain. Statistical significance was not shown in other domains. The odds ratios of subjects with the largest BMI, compared with those in the lowest tertile, were not statistically significant in 10 domains. CONCLUSION: Large waist circumferences affects quality of life in the domains of social function and change in health for men, and bodily pain for women.