Effects of a multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention for obesity on mental and physical components of quality of life: the mediatory role of depression

Summary. The current study investigates the effects of a multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention for obesity on Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL). Method: In this study, 92 adults with obesity were weighed and completed the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) at the baseline and at the end of a 3-month intervention. A repeated measures ANOVA, a series of hierarchical regressions and the statistical mediation analysis of Baron and Kenny were conducted. Results: a) Over 3 months, changes in weight and the mental and physical scales of the SF-36 and depression were all significant. b) The results indicate a significant mediation of changes in depression scores for the association between weight loss and enhancement on the General Health scale of the SF-36. Conclusion: Improvements to HRQoL from a multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention seem to affect both the physical and mental components of the SF-36 score and to reduce depression, contributing to enhanced self-perceptions of well-being