The consequences on the quality of life:
1) Obesity and physical quality of life:
There is compelling evidence that obese individuals report poorer physical quality of life than
do normal weight individuals. The relationship between obesity and poorer quality of life was
observed in all age groups, both genders, and among Caucasian, African American and
Hispanic individuals.
There are some indications from epidemiological research that weight change is related to
physical health. For example, in a prospective study of 40,098 women, it has been reported
that weight change was strongly associated with physical health in women.
Participants were divided into three groups, weight maintainers (39%), weight gainers (38%),
and weight losers (17%). Weight gain was associated with decrements in physical
health-related quality of life among women less than 65 years of age in all BMI categories. The
most dramatic changes in physical function, vitality and bodily pain occurred in those who
gained 9 kg or more over the four years of the study. Conversely, except for women in the
lowest category of BMI (< 25 kg/m2), weight loss was associated with improved vitality and
physical functioning. In women older than 65, weight gain was associated with poorer physical
functioning, and weight loss was associated with improvements in physical functioning, with one
exception. Weight loss was associated with poorer functioning among women in the lowest
category of BMI (< 25 kg/m2), perhaps due to involuntary weight loss. In summary, data from
this large longitudinal study provide support for recommendations to avoid weight gain at all
levels of BMI, and for overweight women to lose weight.
2) Obesity and psychological quality of life:
The data linking obesity and poorer psychological quality of life is much weaker than evidence
documenting poorer physical quality of life in obese individuals. Some more recent
population-based studies have demonstrated marked differences between obese and
non-obese individuals in physical quality of life, but few differences in the psychological or
social dimensions of quality of life. Nevertheless, there is some good evidence that obesity
affects psychological quality of life.
There is strong evidence that more severely obese people differ significantly from normal
weight and more mildly obese individuals in psychosocial functioning. Evidence from the
Swedish Obese Subjects (SOS) study indicated that clinically significant depression, anxiety
and impaired social interaction were 3-4 times higher in severely obese individuals than in
matched non-obese individuals.
Some research has shown that the co-occurrence of obesity and chronic illness is associated
with significant impairments in emotional well being. Other studies have documented a
relationship between obesity and particular aspects of psychological functioning. For example,
it was recently reported that after controlling for baseline mental health and relevant covariates
such as chronic conditions and limitations in activities of daily living, there was no relationship
between obesity and unhappiness or low optimism. However, obesity was a significant risk
factor for incident depression, more about which below.
Cross-sectional analyses documented a relationship between obesity and depression.
Specifically, 15.5% of obese individuals were depressed in comparison to 7.4% of normal
weight individuals.
Gender may moderate the relationship between depression and obesity. In a study that utilized
a structured interview to diagnose major depression in a large sample of adults, obese women
were likelier than non-obese women to have had a major depressive episode during the
previous year. Similarly obese women, when compared to non-obese women, were likelier to
report suicidal ideation and attempts. In contrast, obese men, when compared to non-obese
men had a reduced risk of depression, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts.
There also is substantial evidence that binge eating, defined as episodes of eating objectively
large amounts of food with an associated sense of loss of control over eating behavior, is
common among obese individuals. Moreover, binge eating disorder (BED), a syndrome of
recurrent and persistent binge eating without the regular compensatory behaviors seen in
bulimia nervosa, and that is associated with marked shame and distress, is more common in
obese individuals than their non-obese counterparts.
The relationships among binge eating, depression and obesity are complex and almost
certainly multi-dimensional. Binge eating and depression may contribute to weight gain and
obesity, which, in turn, may negatively affect mood. Depression also may be associated with
decreases in physical activity, which may increase obesity risk. Recurrent episodes of binge
eating are extremely unpleasant for those who experience them, and are associated with
shame and despair that may promote clinical depression. Finally, available evidence suggests
that individuals who are preoccupied with weight and have psychiatric symptoms are those
most vulnerable to the development of aberrant eating.
3) Obesity and social quality of life:
o Stigmatization of obese individuals:
There is significant prejudice against obese individuals, historically and currently, and in
eastern and western cultural traditions. Pervasive negative attitudes toward overweight can be
identified in children as young as three years old. Obese children often are the victims of social
stigmatization, and obese children themselves endorse negative stereotypes of obese
individuals. Other data have suggested that obese teenagers are at risk for victimization by
peers and may be less likely to develop romantic attachments. Obesity has been shown to
have negative effects on college admission, and overweight young women appear to be less
likely to secure parental support for college tuition. Thus negative stereotypes associated with
overweight are evident even in children and may have significant implications for social
development during adolescence.
Obese adults face intense prejudice, although women are more likely than men are to be
stigmatized for obesity. 2 scientists have noted that the stigma attached obesity is related to a
response to appearance-related aspects of overweight, which are markedly discrepant from
western cultural preferences for a slim and fit body type, and to judgments about character
traits attributed to obese individuals (e.g., overweight people are lazy, gluttonous, or lack will
power). It is often assumed, therefore, that obese individuals are responsible for their weight
problems, which may promote self-blame and exacerbate distress. Studies also have
documented negative attitudes toward obese individuals among health care professionals, in
general, and among health professionals who treat obesity. Unsurprisingly more frequent
exposure to stigmatization has been linked to more severe obesity and greater levels of
psychological distress.
Prejudicial attitudes toward obese individuals extend to discriminatory behaviors against them.
there was consistent evidence documenting pervasive bias against obese individuals in areas
that almost certainly affect health and well being. Specifically, there appears to be a prejudice
against hiring obese individuals as well as pay discrimination against overweight women.
Similarly, discrimination against obese individuals in the workplace has been documented. In
summary, obesity is associated with discriminatory attitudes and behaviors across a variety of
social domains.
o Obesity and socioeconomic status:
The nature of the relationship between obesity and socioeconomic status is unclear. That is,
obesity may lead to lower socioeconomic status (through discrimination in hiring), low
socioeconomic status may lead to obesity (through difficulties in sustaining a health-promoting
diet or adequate levels of physical activity), or there may be other factors that promote both
obesity and lower socioeconomic status. There is, however, evidence from longitudinal
investigations that indicate that obesity may have profound consequences for later social
functioning. It was found that women who were obese in late adolescence were less likely seven
years later to be married, and had less education and lower incomes than did non-obese
individuals. Although more research is needed to clarify the nature of the relationship between
socioeconomic status and obesity, it is clear that there are complex interrelationships between
socioeconomic status and obesity that have profound consequences for quality of life.
1) Obesity and physical quality of life:
There is compelling evidence that obese individuals report poorer physical quality of life than
do normal weight individuals. The relationship between obesity and poorer quality of life was
observed in all age groups, both genders, and among Caucasian, African American and
Hispanic individuals.
There are some indications from epidemiological research that weight change is related to
physical health. For example, in a prospective study of 40,098 women, it has been reported
that weight change was strongly associated with physical health in women.
Participants were divided into three groups, weight maintainers (39%), weight gainers (38%),
and weight losers (17%). Weight gain was associated with decrements in physical
health-related quality of life among women less than 65 years of age in all BMI categories. The
most dramatic changes in physical function, vitality and bodily pain occurred in those who
gained 9 kg or more over the four years of the study. Conversely, except for women in the
lowest category of BMI (< 25 kg/m2), weight loss was associated with improved vitality and
physical functioning. In women older than 65, weight gain was associated with poorer physical
functioning, and weight loss was associated with improvements in physical functioning, with one
exception. Weight loss was associated with poorer functioning among women in the lowest
category of BMI (< 25 kg/m2), perhaps due to involuntary weight loss. In summary, data from
this large longitudinal study provide support for recommendations to avoid weight gain at all
levels of BMI, and for overweight women to lose weight.
2) Obesity and psychological quality of life:
The data linking obesity and poorer psychological quality of life is much weaker than evidence
documenting poorer physical quality of life in obese individuals. Some more recent
population-based studies have demonstrated marked differences between obese and
non-obese individuals in physical quality of life, but few differences in the psychological or
social dimensions of quality of life. Nevertheless, there is some good evidence that obesity
affects psychological quality of life.
There is strong evidence that more severely obese people differ significantly from normal
weight and more mildly obese individuals in psychosocial functioning. Evidence from the
Swedish Obese Subjects (SOS) study indicated that clinically significant depression, anxiety
and impaired social interaction were 3-4 times higher in severely obese individuals than in
matched non-obese individuals.
Some research has shown that the co-occurrence of obesity and chronic illness is associated
with significant impairments in emotional well being. Other studies have documented a
relationship between obesity and particular aspects of psychological functioning. For example,
it was recently reported that after controlling for baseline mental health and relevant covariates
such as chronic conditions and limitations in activities of daily living, there was no relationship
between obesity and unhappiness or low optimism. However, obesity was a significant risk
factor for incident depression, more about which below.
Cross-sectional analyses documented a relationship between obesity and depression.
Specifically, 15.5% of obese individuals were depressed in comparison to 7.4% of normal
weight individuals.
Gender may moderate the relationship between depression and obesity. In a study that utilized
a structured interview to diagnose major depression in a large sample of adults, obese women
were likelier than non-obese women to have had a major depressive episode during the
previous year. Similarly obese women, when compared to non-obese women, were likelier to
report suicidal ideation and attempts. In contrast, obese men, when compared to non-obese
men had a reduced risk of depression, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts.
There also is substantial evidence that binge eating, defined as episodes of eating objectively
large amounts of food with an associated sense of loss of control over eating behavior, is
common among obese individuals. Moreover, binge eating disorder (BED), a syndrome of
recurrent and persistent binge eating without the regular compensatory behaviors seen in
bulimia nervosa, and that is associated with marked shame and distress, is more common in
obese individuals than their non-obese counterparts.
The relationships among binge eating, depression and obesity are complex and almost
certainly multi-dimensional. Binge eating and depression may contribute to weight gain and
obesity, which, in turn, may negatively affect mood. Depression also may be associated with
decreases in physical activity, which may increase obesity risk. Recurrent episodes of binge
eating are extremely unpleasant for those who experience them, and are associated with
shame and despair that may promote clinical depression. Finally, available evidence suggests
that individuals who are preoccupied with weight and have psychiatric symptoms are those
most vulnerable to the development of aberrant eating.
3) Obesity and social quality of life:
o Stigmatization of obese individuals:
There is significant prejudice against obese individuals, historically and currently, and in
eastern and western cultural traditions. Pervasive negative attitudes toward overweight can be
identified in children as young as three years old. Obese children often are the victims of social
stigmatization, and obese children themselves endorse negative stereotypes of obese
individuals. Other data have suggested that obese teenagers are at risk for victimization by
peers and may be less likely to develop romantic attachments. Obesity has been shown to
have negative effects on college admission, and overweight young women appear to be less
likely to secure parental support for college tuition. Thus negative stereotypes associated with
overweight are evident even in children and may have significant implications for social
development during adolescence.
Obese adults face intense prejudice, although women are more likely than men are to be
stigmatized for obesity. 2 scientists have noted that the stigma attached obesity is related to a
response to appearance-related aspects of overweight, which are markedly discrepant from
western cultural preferences for a slim and fit body type, and to judgments about character
traits attributed to obese individuals (e.g., overweight people are lazy, gluttonous, or lack will
power). It is often assumed, therefore, that obese individuals are responsible for their weight
problems, which may promote self-blame and exacerbate distress. Studies also have
documented negative attitudes toward obese individuals among health care professionals, in
general, and among health professionals who treat obesity. Unsurprisingly more frequent
exposure to stigmatization has been linked to more severe obesity and greater levels of
psychological distress.
Prejudicial attitudes toward obese individuals extend to discriminatory behaviors against them.
there was consistent evidence documenting pervasive bias against obese individuals in areas
that almost certainly affect health and well being. Specifically, there appears to be a prejudice
against hiring obese individuals as well as pay discrimination against overweight women.
Similarly, discrimination against obese individuals in the workplace has been documented. In
summary, obesity is associated with discriminatory attitudes and behaviors across a variety of
social domains.
o Obesity and socioeconomic status:
The nature of the relationship between obesity and socioeconomic status is unclear. That is,
obesity may lead to lower socioeconomic status (through discrimination in hiring), low
socioeconomic status may lead to obesity (through difficulties in sustaining a health-promoting
diet or adequate levels of physical activity), or there may be other factors that promote both
obesity and lower socioeconomic status. There is, however, evidence from longitudinal
investigations that indicate that obesity may have profound consequences for later social
functioning. It was found that women who were obese in late adolescence were less likely seven
years later to be married, and had less education and lower incomes than did non-obese
individuals. Although more research is needed to clarify the nature of the relationship between
socioeconomic status and obesity, it is clear that there are complex interrelationships between
socioeconomic status and obesity that have profound consequences for quality of life.
 | |  | |  |
- Obesity
Read more about obesity
Classification of Obesity
Basic Methods for
Measurement of Obesity
Epidemiology of Obesity
Etiology of Obesity
Behavioral Change
Classification of Obesity
Basic Methods for
Measurement of Obesity
Epidemiology of Obesity
Etiology of Obesity
Behavioral Change
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Lipocerin
Chitosan
Biosculpt Night
Time Weight
Loss Formula
Conjugated
linoleic acid
(CLA)
Pyruvate
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