title: Impact of weight loss on health-related quality of life.
abstract: To examine the effect of treatment-induced weight loss on Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL), 38 mildly-to-moderately overweight persons recruited to participate in a study to examine the efficacy of a lifestyle modification treatment program completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36, as an assessment of HRQL), and underwent a series of clinical evaluations prior to treatment. After baseline evaluations, participants were randomly assigned to either a program of lifestyle physical activity or a program of traditional aerobic activity. Participants again completed the SF-36 and BDI after the 13-week treatment program had ended. Weight loss averaged 8.6 +/- 2.8 kg over the 13-week study. We found that weight loss was associated with significantly higher scores (enhanced HRQL), relative to baseline, on the physical functioning, role-physical, general health, vitality and mental health domains of the SF-36. The largest improvements were with respect to the vitality, general health perception and role-physical domains. There were no significant differences between the lifestyle and aerobic activity groups on any of the study measures. These data indicate that, at least in the short-term, weight loss appears to profoundly enhance HRQL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. krf@welchlink.welch.jhu.edu
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Fontaine
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Barofsky
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Bartlett
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wiersema
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Cheskin
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Franckowiak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011788:Quality of Life; D015431:Weight Loss