Health-Related Quality of Life in Overweight/Obese Adults with Different Levels of Perceived Social Support: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study

Obesity predisposes individuals to functional decline and low self-esteem. Therefore, perceived social support can be a key determinant of individuals' reactions to this phenomenon and their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The present study aimed to compare the association between HRQoL and perceived social support in overweight/obese adults in Tehran, Iran.

A total of 1674 participants of Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study, aged ≥20 years, were enrolled in this study. To collect data, the perceived social support, HRQoL, and demographic information questionnaires were used. The participants were categorized into two groups of normal weight and overweight (73.6%), according to the body mass index (BMI).

The mean age of the participants was 47.96±15.25 years, and 57.8% (n=963) of them were female. In both groups of low and high social support, the physical functioning score of HRQoL was significantly higher in normal-weight individuals, compared to their overweight/obese counterparts (OR: 1.94, CI: 1.21-3.10).

After adjusting for demographic, behavioral, and clinical factors in the group with lower levels of perceived social support, it was found that the likelihood of poor physical functioning, as a component of HRQoL, in overweight/obese individuals was almost twice as high as those with a normal weight.