Quality of Life, Overweight, and Body Fat Distribution in Middle-Aged Men

Abstract

Measurements of obesity [body mass index (BMI)] and body fat distribution [waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)] were analyzed in 284 51-year-old men in relation to items about social, mental, and physical well-being from the Göteborg Quality of Life Instrument. Overweight participants (BMI ≥ 25) reported a better home-family situation, appetite, and self-esteem, but decreased physical fitness and more pain in the legs compared with their leaner counterparts. Men with abdominal obesity (WHR ≥ 1.0) experienced impaired health and physical fitness and lower self-esteem compared with those with WHR < 1.0. The abdominally obese participants were more often exhausted and experienced depressive symptoms. Abdominal pain was more frequent among those with WHR ≥ 1.0. Overweight and abdominal obesity seem differently associated with social, mental, and physical well-being in men. Impaired quality of life may be causally related to the development of abdominal obesity; the mechanism involved might be increased cortisol secretion, which can redistribute body fat to central adipose tissue depots.

Index Terms:

• body mass index (BMI)
• cortisol
• men
• obesity
• quality of life
• waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Roland Rosmond

Drs Rosmond and Björntorp are with the Department of Heart and Lung Diseases, University of Göteborg, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.