title: Examining the Association Between Body Mass Index and Weight Related Quality of Life in Black and White Women.
abstract: Obesity not only increases risk for morbidity/mortality, but also impacts the quality of life of obese individuals. In the United States, black women have the highest prevalence of obesity of any other group with approximately 80% of black women over age 20 having a body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2. We aimed to examine the association between BMI and quality of life in this high risk population compared to this association in white women, using the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life (IWQOL)-Lite questionnaire. Data from 172 black women (mean BMI= 35.7; age=40.5) and 171 white women (mean BMI= 35.5; age=40.4) were collected between 2000 and 2010 analyzed in 2010. The mean IWQOL-Lite total score was 81.6 for black women compared to 66.9 for white women, a statistically significant difference. Hierarchical linear regression models revealed a significant BMI-by-race interaction indicating that the relationship between BMI and IWQOL-Lite score was moderated by race. Our findings suggest notable differences in weight-related quality of life in black and white women. At similar BMIs, black women consistently reported better quality of life than white women on all IWQOL-Lite subscales. The greatest difference in IWQOL-Lite scores between black and white women was seen in the self-esteem subscale. Additional research is needed to understand how to incorporate the weight perspectives of black women into weight management messages and interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Education and Health Behavior, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham St. #820, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA.
authors.forename: Tiffany L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1530 3rd Avenue South Webb 318, Birmingham, AL 35294-3360, USA.
authors.forename: Jamy D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Ard
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1530 3rd Avenue South RPHB 309E, Birmingham, AL 35294-3360, USA.
authors.forename: T Mark
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Beasley
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1530 3rd Avenue South Webb 318, Birmingham, AL 35294-3360, USA.
authors.forename: Jose R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1530 3rd Avenue South RPHB RPHB 210F, Birmingham, AL 35294-3360, USA.
authors.forename: Virginia J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.affiliation: Obesity and Quality of Life Consulting, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Ronnete L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Kolotkin
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Fargo, ND, USA.
authors.forename: Ross D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Crosby
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1530 3rd Avenue South RPHB RPHB 210F, Birmingham, AL 35294-3360, USA.
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Affuso
keywords: Black; Quality of life; Weight; Women