Effect of obesity on health-related quality of life among Appalachian elderly.
BACKGROUND
There is a paucity of research on health behaviors, health status, and overall health-related quality of life among Appalachian elderly. Identifying factors among older adults that place them at risk for low health-related quality of life is important for targeting unmet health needs and guiding community efforts to help improve population health.


METHODS
For this study, we examined the relationship between obesity and health-related quality of life among Appalachians aged 65 years or older using the 2000 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey data.


RESULTS
Our results showed that obese elderly Appalachians report poorer self-rated health and more days of poor physical health compared with their nonobese counterparts.


CONCLUSIONS
The goals put forward in Healthy People 2010 include the reduction of obesity and enhancement of quality of life. If such health disparities are to be eliminated and quality of life enhanced, a sustained effort to identify their determinants among Appalachian elderly is needed.
Goins
R Turner
RT
Center on Aging and Department of Community Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA. rgoins@hsc.wvu.edu
Spencer
S Melinda
SM
Krummel
Debra A
DA
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001061:Appalachian Region; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors