open access publication

Article, 2024

The association between body mass index and health‐related quality of life in the 2017 and 2018 health survey of England data: A cross‐sectional observational analysis

Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism, ISSN 1463-1326, 1462-8902, Volume 26, 6, Pages 2318-2328, 10.1111/dom.15546

Contributors

Luah, Xiao Wen [1] [2] Holst-Hansen, Thomas 0000-0002-5314-7802 [1] Lübker, Christopher 0000-0003-3220-801X (Corresponding author) [1] [2]

Affiliations

  1. [1] Novo Nordisk (Denmark)
    2. [NORA names: Novo Nordisk; Private Research; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];
  2. [2] University of York
    3. [NORA names: United Kingdom; Europe, Non-EU; OECD]

Abstract

AIM: To provide an updated estimate of the association between body mass index (BMI) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among the general population in England and to identify population subgroups with the highest potential utility gains from obesity interventions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample included 12 158 adults with valid HRQoL and BMI data from the 2017 and 2018 Health Survey for England. Robust standard error linear regression, controlling for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, lifestyle behaviours and obesity-related comorbidities, was used for the baseline analysis. Robustness checks assessed the impact of (a) estimator selection; (b) model specifications; (c) statistical outliers at high BMI; (d) potential BMI measurement error; and (e) data pooling. RESULTS: The study found a significant association between HRQoL and BMI, which exhibited an inverted U-shaped relationship. The mean HRQoL peaked at 25.7 kg/m2 in men and 22.6 kg/m2 in women and was reduced in the underweight, overweight and obesity BMI ranges. Sensitivity analyses reported similar coefficients, suggesting a robust model specification. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced HRQoL beyond optimal BMI underlines the importance of maintaining a normal BMI range for overall health. The rising prevalence of class III obesity is a major public health concern given its disproportionate impact on health, health care utilization and costs. Obesity management is key to preventing the reduction in HRQoL associated with obesity-related comorbidities, and this analysis supports the development of targeted policies and population health initiatives for people with class III obesity.

Keywords

England, England data, HRQoL, Health Survey, Health Survey for England, III obesity, adults, analysis, association, baseline, baseline analysis, behavior, body, body mass index, body mass index data, body mass index range, care utilization, characteristics, checking, class, class III obesity, coefficient, comorbidities, concerns, cost, cross-sectional observational analysis, data, data pool, development, development of targeted policies, disproportionate impact, error, estimation, gain, general population, health, health care utilization, health concern, health initiatives, health-related quality, health-related quality of life, impact, index, initiation, intervention, life, lifestyle, lifestyle behaviors, linear regression, management, mass index, measurement error, men, model, model specification, obese BMI, obesity, obesity interventions, obesity management, obesity-related comorbidities, observational analysis, optimal body mass index, outliers, overall health, people, policy, pool, population, population health initiatives, population subgroups, potential utility gains, prevalence, prevalence of class III obesity, public health concern, quality of life, range, reduced HRQoL, reduction, regression, relationship, robustness, robustness checks, samples, sensitivity, sensitivity analysis, socioeconomic characteristics, specificity, statistical outliers, study, subgroups, utility gain, utilization, women

Funders

  • Novo Nordisk (Denmark)

Data Provider: Digital Science

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