Gender Differences in the Impact of Obesity on Health-Related Quality of Life

This study investigated the association between health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and obesity stratified by sex in 34 935 Korean adults. We used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a cross-sectional, nationwide, population-based survey, from 2007 to 2012. Individuals with higher than average health value scores using the EQ-5D-3L to measure HRQoL were classified as being in good health. Multiple logistic regressions were used to determine the association between obesity and good health. Of the 34 935 adults, 28.0% (9767) were classified as obese, 3.8% (1326) as severely obese, and 23.6% (8249) as overweight. Through multiple logistic regressions after adjustments, women who were severely obese had 31% significantly lower HRQoL than women with normal weight (95% confidence interval = 1.12-1.53). However, the same trend was not found in men. Additional interventional studies would be needed to better understand the causality of the association between obesity and HRQoL in women.