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Erschienen in: Wiener klinische Wochenschrift 7-8/2012

01.04.2012 | short report

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

verfasst von: Nathalie T. Burkert, Wolfgang Freidl, Johanna Muckenhuber, Willibald J. Stronegger, Éva Rásky

Erschienen in: Wiener klinische Wochenschrift | Ausgabe 7-8/2012

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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.
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Metadaten
Titel
Self-perceived health, quality of life, and health-related behavior in obesity: is social status a mediator?
verfasst von
Nathalie T. Burkert
Wolfgang Freidl
Johanna Muckenhuber
Willibald J. Stronegger
Éva Rásky
Publikationsdatum
01.04.2012
Verlag
Springer Vienna
Erschienen in
Wiener klinische Wochenschrift / Ausgabe 7-8/2012
Print ISSN: 0043-5325
Elektronische ISSN: 1613-7671
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-012-0160-y

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