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Self-perceived health, quality of life, and health-related behavior in obesity: is social status a mediator?

Ist der soziale Status ein Mediator der subjektiven Gesundheit, dem Gesundheitsverhalten und der Lebensqualität bei Adipositas?

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Summary

Background

Obesity prevalence is increasing worldwide and is associated with a high health risk. Unfavorable psychological factors, lower self-ratings of health, and worse health-related behavior can be found in individuals with a low socioeconomic status (SES). Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate whether obese subjects with a high SES differ from those with a low SES depending on these outcomes.

Methods

Data of the Austrian Health Interview Survey (ATHIS) 2006/2007—precisely of 760 obese subjects with a low SES and 851 with a high SES—were analyzed stratified by sex and adjusted by age with regard to differences in self-perceived health, quality of life (regarding physical and psychological health, environment, and social relationships), and health-related behavior (smoking, alcohol consumption, eating behavior, physical exercise).

Results

The results have shown that obese subjects with a low SES differ significantly from those with a high SES in terms of self-perceived health, quality of life, and intensity of physical activities. Furthermore, differences were found in obese women as to smoking behavior, alcohol consumption, and continuance of physical exercise.

Conclusion

It seems that not only obesity but also the socioeconomic status plays a role in health, and the risk assessment of obese individuals in the primary health care setting should include socioeconomic factors. Furthermore, public health programs which focus on obese subjects with a low SES are urgently needed.

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund

Die Prävalenz der Adipositas nimmt weltweit zu und ist mit einem hohen Gesundheitsrisiko verbunden. Personen mit einem niedrigen sozioökonomischen Status (SES) weisen ein schlechteres Gesundheitsverhalten, ungünstige psychologische Faktoren und eine schlechtere subjektive Gesundheit auf. Daher war das Ziel dieser Untersuchung, Unterschiede zwischen adipösen Personen mit einem hohen vs. niedrigen SES zu analysieren.

Methoden

Zur Prüfung der Fragestellung wurden die Daten der österreichischen Gesundheitsbefragung 2006/2007 analysiert. Unterschiede im Hinblick auf die subjektive Gesundheit, die Lebensqualität (in den Bereichen physische und psychische Gesundheit, Umgebungsfaktoren und soziale Beziehungen), sowie das Gesundheitsverhalten (Rauchen, Alkoholkonsum, Ess- und Bewegungsverhalten) von 760 adipösen Personen mit einem niedrigen SES und 851 mit einem hohen SES wurden geschlechtsstratifiziert und alterskorrigiert untersucht.

Ergebnisse

Adipöse Personen mit einem niedrigen SES unterscheiden sich signifikant von jenen mit einem hohen SES hinsichtlich der subjektiven Gesundheit, der Lebensqualität und der Intensität des Bewegungsverhaltens. Weiters wurden Unterschiede in Abhängigkeit vom SES bei adipösen Frauen in Bezug auf ihr Rauchverhalten, ihren Alkoholkonsum und die Häufigkeit ihres Bewegungsverhaltens, festgestellt.

Schlussfolgerung

Der sozioökonomische Status hat einen wesentlichen Einfluss auf die Gesundheit und das Gesundheitsverhalten bei Adipositas und diese Tatsache sollte in der primärmedizinischen Versorgung berücksichtigt werden. Weiters sind Gesundheitsprogramme, speziell für adipöse Personen mit niedrigem SES, dringend erforderlich.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Social Medicine and Epidemiology, Medical University Graz, Universitaetsplatz 6/I, 8010, Graz, Austria

    Nathalie T. Burkert, Wolfgang Freidl, Johanna Muckenhuber, Willibald J. Stronegger & Éva Rásky

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  1. Nathalie T. Burkert
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  2. Wolfgang Freidl
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  3. Johanna Muckenhuber
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  4. Willibald J. Stronegger
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  5. Éva Rásky
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Correspondence to Nathalie T. Burkert.

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Burkert, N., Freidl, W., Muckenhuber, J. et al. Self-perceived health, quality of life, and health-related behavior in obesity: is social status a mediator?. Wien Klin Wochenschr 124, 271–275 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-012-0160-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-012-0160-y

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