Influence of body mass index on psychological and functional outcomes in patients with multiple sclerosis: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives: To analyze the effect of weight on psychological and functional outcomes in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, including self-perception, depression, functional level, fatigue, and self-rated health status.

Methods: One hundred and one (n = 101) patients with MS participated in this cross-sectional study. Outcomes were scores in the Beck Depression Inventory, NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEOFFI), Functional Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis (FAMS), Fatigue Impact Scale, and Quality Short-Form Health Survey 36 (SF-36). Patients were classified as normal weight (18.5 < BMI < 24.9 kg/m²) or overweight (25.0 > BMI > 29.9 kg/m²). One-way analysis of covariance was conducted with gender, age, and years with disease as covariates.

Results: Depression levels were significantly higher in overweight versus normal-weight MS patients (F = 6.381; P = 0.013). NEOFFI scores were significantly higher in overweight versus normal-weight MS patients for extraversion (F = 6.331; P = 0.014), conscientiousness (F = 4.794; P = 0.034), and neuroticism (F = 5.422; P = 0.022) but not for openness (F = 2.174; P = 0.109) or agreeableness (F = 0.047; P = 0.829). The two groups did not significantly differ in fatigue (P > 00.5). Scores in general (F = 4.708; P = 0.032) and mental health (F = 4.583; P = 0.035) SF-36 domains were significantly lower in overweight versus normal-weight patients. Scores for FAMS domains of emotional well-being (F = 8.050; P = 0.006), general contentment (F = 7.967; P = 0.006), and family/social well-being (F = 7.662; P = 0.007) were significantly lower in overweight versus normal-weight patients.

Conclusions: Overweight MS patients evidenced higher depression levels, lower functional capacity, and worse self-rated health status in comparison to normal-weight MS patients. These results suggest that weight control programs should be incorporated into the management of patients with MS.

Keywords:

• Multiple sclerosis
• Overweight
• Quality of life
• Depression
• Fatigue

Acknowledgments

The collaboration from Noelia Galiano-Castillo was supported by a grant (Program FPU AP2010-6075) from the Spanish Education Ministry (Madrid).

Disclaimer statements

Contributors JC-M, MA-M, CFDLP, NG-C, and LD-R designed the study, participated in the analysis of the results and writing the draft. EM-H, CFDLP, and SL-V conceived the study, participated in the experimental phase of the study. All the authors approved the manuscript.

Funding None.

Conflicts of interest None.

Ethics approval The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón (HUFA 11/087) Madrid (Spain).