Factors associated with health‐related quality of life among overweight or obese adults

Aims and objectives To identify factors associated with health‐related quality of life among overweight or obese adults. Background The obesity epidemic presents a global challenge. Obesity is associated with lower health‐related quality of life; however, no study has comprehensively examined correlates of health‐related quality of life in this population. Design A cross‐sectional design. Methods The physical component score, mental component score and eight domain scores of the Short Form‐36 v2 were used to assess health‐related quality of life. We identified 23 possible correlates of health‐related quality of life, including age, body mass index, health and weight histories, perceived stress, cholesterol‐lowering diet self‐efficacy, problem‐solving, binge eating, dietary intake and physical activity. Correlational analyses were used to examine the bivariate associations between correlates and health‐related quality of life variables. All possible subsets regression was used to develop predictive models of health‐related quality of life. Results The sample (n = 210) was predominantly White (84·8%), female (78·1%) and middle‐aged (average age = 46·80 years). Age, body mass index, education, having children at home, and being hypertensive were identified as the best predictors of physical component score, explaining about 9% of the variance. Age, marital status, having hyperlipidaemia, perceived stress, problem‐solving, self‐efficacy, binge eating and barriers to healthy eating predicted mental component score, explaining approximately 48% of the variance. Physical functioning and role physical domains of health‐related quality of life had similar sets of predictors, with 15% and 13% of the variance explained, respectively, while similar predictors were identified for bodily pain (6%), general health (26%), vitality (40%), social functioning (32%), role emotional (42%) and mental health (46%) domains. Conclusions Psychosocial factors were associated with the mental‐related quality of life. Further exploration of factors related to physical‐related quality of life is warranted in this population. Relevance to clinical practice When working with overweight/obese adults who are trying to lose weight, nurses need to consider socio‐demographic and psychosocial factors in the development of a treatment plan that will improve health‐related quality of life in this population.