Psychiatric distress and health-related quality of life in obesity.
Health-related quality of life (HRQL) is poor in obese patients and not necessarily related to the severity of disease. In a large proportion of patients psychopathological distress is also present and its role on poor HRQL has never been quantified.


METHODS
In 207 patients entering a University-based weight-reducing programme (38 males, 169 females), a package of self-administered questionnaires was submitted to measure HRQL (Short-Form 36) and psychopathological distress [general: Symptom Check-List 90 (SCL-90); depression: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI); binge eating: Binge Eating Scale (BES)]. Several clinical and anthropometric data were also recorded.


RESULTS
HRQL, both in its physical and mental component, was significantly reduced in obesity when related to Italian population norms. SCL-90 identified psychopathological distress in 53 patients (26%), the BDI was indicative of depression in 89 cases (43%), whereas high scores of the BES were measured in 88 cases. Logistic regression analysis identified psichopathological distress as the major factor associated with poor HRQL.


CONCLUSIONS
Psychiatric disturbances significantly contribute to poorly perceived health status. Only a comprehensive treatment including a specific approach to psychiatric symptoms may be effective in improving the perceived health status of obese patients seeking treatment.
Marchesini
G
G
Metabolic Unit, Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. marchreg@med.unibo.it
Bellini
M
M
Natale
S
S
Belsito
C
C
Isacco
S
S
Nuccitelli
C
C
Pasqui
F
F
Baraldi
L
L
Forlani
G
G
Melchionda
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002032:Bulimia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires