Impact of weight on quality of life in obese adults

الملخص EN

Background : Obesity is a complex multi factorial disease; genetic, metabolic, social, behavioral, and cultural , it has dramatic negative effects on overall health and related with decrements in overall spects of quality of life whether it is physical, psychological, or social.

Objective to assess the extent to which weight affects the quality of life in obese persons and to assess which aspects of quality of life are most effected by weight.

Design; A descriptive cross-sectional study of 170 persons randomly selected (as convenience sample) from three major hospitals in AL-Hilla city south of Baghdad from 1st of March to 30th of May.

All patients included were have BMI more than30 kg/m2.

Data obtained included IWOQL questionnaire (obesity-specific QOL questionnaire) ,measurement which included (body mass index ,waist circumference , waist to hip ratio ,body fat percentage) , were analysed by SPSS program version 17.

Results; The study included 170 obese persons, (35%) are male and (65%) are female with mean age (39.48 +_ 9.65), years old.

of those (34.7%)were have good quality of life while or (65.3%) were have poor quality of life.There was significant relation between QOL and BMI (p value=0.000), according to domains (self confidence and sexual life)were more impaired in female p value was (0.000) and (0.02) respectively and (physical function,work)were more impaired in male p value was (0.01) and (0.000), older age were more impaired in(physical function,sexual life,work) p value was (0.000), (0.018), (0.006) respectively ,younger age more impaired in self confidence value (0.o18) (58.5%) of study population were have no physical activity ,(56%) of study population were have sleeping time less than8 hrs,(54%) were sitting on computer screen or watching TV more than 3 hours.

Regarding dietary habits;(55%)of study population were eating irregular meals,(71%)eating breakfast daily,(58%)eating snack >3times/wk,(27%) were eating snack before bed time,(45%)were often eating fast food,(46%)were drinking water less than 2L/day.

Statistically, there was significant relation between QOL and (irregular meal p value=0.042)and(nocturnal snacking pvalue=0.031) Conclusion; increasing BMI has negative effect in on physical ,psychological ,and social aspects of life, it is effected by;age(older age more impaired in physical function,work and sexual life ,younger age more effectedin self- confidence), gender (female in self-confidence and sexual life ,male in physical function and work), bad medical history , sedentary and unhealthy life style ,unhealthy eating habits can effect on quality of life in obese individuals.