A cross-sectional analysis of the association between health related quality of life and bodyweight changes

Introduction Bodyweight outside the normal range is commonly associated with reduced health related quality of life (HRQL), while physical activity has shown to improve HRQL. Few studies have investigated the effect of relative bodyweight changes on HRQL. Our objective was to investigate the effect of bodyweight changes, bodyweight, physical activity and smoking on HRQL. Methods In the community–based Hordaland Health Study (1997-99), 9276 men and 10433 women aged 40–47 years were included. Weight and height was measured and information on bodyweight changes, physical activity and smoking was obtained from self–administered questionnaires which included the Medical Outcomes Study MOS short form-12 (SF-12). A Physical (PCS) and a Mental health Composite Score (MCS) was derived from these 12 questions. Results In multivariate analyses bodyweight changes had a significant effect on PCS and MCS, with reduced scores linearly with increasing bodyweight changes (p<0.001). Bodyweight was significantly associated with variations in the PCS and MCS. The normal weight individuals had the highest PCS, while they surprisingly had a slightly lower MCS compared to the higher bodyweight categories. Significant associations were found between low PCS and MCS, low physical activity and current smoking (p<0.001). Women had a significantly better effect of physical activity on PCS than men with a mean difference of 5.0 score units from the least to the most physically active individuals, compared to the men’s score of 3.2 units. Conclusions Findings show that bodyweight changes are significantly related to a reduced physical and mental health, while a high bodyweight is related to reduced physical health but not mental health. According to analysis women have a greater potential for benefitting from physical activity than men.Innledning Kroppsvektproblematikk blir ofte forbundet med redusert helserelatert livskvalitet (HRQL), mens fysisk aktivitet har vist seg å forbedre HRQL. Få studier har undersøkt effekten av kroppsvektsvingninger på HRQL. Vår hensikt var å undersøke effekten av kroppsvektsvingninger, kroppsvekt, fysisk aktivitet og røyking på HRQL. Metode I en tverrsnittsanalyse av Helseundersøkelsen i Hordaland (1997-99), ble 9276 menn og 10433 kvinner i alderen 40-47 år inkludert. Vekt og høyde ble målt, og informasjon om kroppsvektendringer, fysisk aktivitet og røyking ble registrert ved hjelp av spørreskjemaer. Her inngikk også det standardiserte spørreskjemaet Medical Outcomes Study MOS kortform- 12 (SF-12). De 12 spørsmålene ble stratifisert i en sammensatt fysisk- (PCS) og en sammensatt mental helse score (MCS). Resultater Resultater fra analysene viste at kroppsvektendringer hadde en markant negativ effekt på både PCS og MCS, med redusert score lineært med økende kroppsvektendringer (p<0,001). Kroppsmasseindeks hadde også signifikant sammenheng med variasjoner i PCS og MCS, hvor normalvektige hadde best PCS. De normalvektige hadde overraskende en lavere gjennomsnittlig MCS i forhold til deltakerne med høyere kroppsvekt. Videre ble det funnet en signifikant sammenheng mellom redusert PCS og MCS og lav fysisk aktivitet samt røyking (p