Gender and age differences in the impact of overweight on obesity-related quality of life among Korean adults

Abstract

Objective: To investigate gender and age difference in impact of overweight on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among Korean adults. Methods: Cross-sectional obesity-related quality of life (QOL) scores were measured by a Korean obesity-related QOL scale (KOQOL) from 448 Korean adults aged 20-80 years. A body mass index (BMI) was categorized with normal-weight as BMI < 23 kg/m(2), overweight as BMI >= 23 kg/m(2) based on the alternative cutoff points for Asians. Each gender was respectively stratified by median age, 45 years for men and 50 years for women, to examine the obesity-related QOL by age groups. Results: Women had a poorer obesity-related QOL compared to men (p < 0.001). In the younger age group, overweight women had a poorer obesity-related QOL compared with normal-weight women (p < 0.001), however normal-weight and overweight men showed no difference in obesity-related QOL. In the older age group, overweight men showed better QOL on the domains of work-related and psychosocial health than those for normal-weight men, but overweight women still suffered from work-related and routine life QOL. Conclusions: This study showed the impact of overweight on obesity-related QOL was different for gender and age group. We should consider the results to manage weight in overweight persons. (C) 2009 Asian Oceanian Association for the Study of Obesity. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.