title: The relation between self-reported body weight and health-related quality of life: a cross-sectional study in Japan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Whilst being obese is associated with increased mortality, less is known about the relationship between body weight and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). We aimed to examine this relationship in the general Japanese population, focusing on both underweight and overweight individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  We cross sectionally analyzed data from the Health Diary Study, which surveyed health-related behavior in a nationally quasi-representative sample from 2003. HRQOL was measured using the Short Form-8 Health Survey. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from self-reported height and weight values. We compared differences in HRQOL in people with normal BMI (18.5-24.9) with those with underweight (<18.5), overweight (25-29.9) or obese (≥30) BMIs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among a population-weighted random sample (5387 households), 1857 households (34.5%) agreed to participate. Of the targeted sample population (3658 people), 3477 responded (95.1%). Of 2453 people (age ≥18 years), we analyzed data from 2399 people. After adjusting for age, sex and status of chronic conditions, we found that being overweight was correlated with impaired physical HRQOL [coefficient:-0.96 (95% confidence interval (CI): -1.73, -0.20)] but not with mental HRQOL [coefficient: -0.17 (95% CI: -0.50, 0.95)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the differences were small, being overweight was correlated with impaired physical HRQOL but not with mental HRQOL.
authors: Department of Health Informatics, Kyoto University School of Public Health, Kyoto, Japan. y-takahashi@umin.ac.jp
authors: Yoshimitsu
authors: Y
authors: Takahashi
authors: Michi
authors: M
authors: Sakai
authors: Yasuharu
authors: Y
authors: Tokuda
authors: Osamu
authors: O
authors: Takahashi
authors: Sachiko
authors: S
authors: Ohde
authors: Takeo
authors: T
authors: Nakayama
authors: Shunichi
authors: S
authors: Fukuhara
authors: Tsuguya
authors: T
authors: Fukui
authors: Takuro
authors: T
authors: Shimbo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D057566:Self Report; D012923:Social Class; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult