Overweight, life satisfaction and aspirations in women

Nutrition Research Newsletter, August, 2004

It is well known that obesity contributes to increased morbidity and/or mortality from a number of physical health conditions. However, obesity is also associated with social, economic and psychological factors, and these relationships are less well understood. A growing body of evidence attests to a poorer psychological profile associated with obesity in adults. Obese persons have been shown to be at greater risk for depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and poorer social relationships, and generally poorer mental health-related quality of life and psychosocial functioning. While this evidence is important, very few studies have examined satisfaction with current life aspects. Since further research is necessary to determine whether weight gain and obesity are associated with lower levels of life satisfaction over time, a group of Australian researchers investigated associations of overweight and change in overweight status over time with life satisfaction and future aspirations in young women.

This study used data derived from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (WHA). A total of 7,865 young women, initially 18 to 23 years of age, completed two surveys that were four years apart. The women provided data on their future life aspirations in the areas of further education, work/career, marital status and children, as well as their satisfaction with achievements to date in a number of life domains. Socioeconomic status was also investigated and indicated by occupation. Women reported their height and weight, from which BMI was calculated.

Young women's aspirations were cross-sectionally related to BMI category, such that obese women were less likely to aspire to further education, although this relationship seemed explained largely by current occupation. Even after adjusting for current occupation, the women who were obese were less satisfied with work/ career/study, partner/closepersonal relationships, and social activities. Satisfaction with friendships did not differ by BMI category. Weight status also was longitudinally associated with aspirations and life satisfaction. In terms of life satisfaction, there were no differences between women who had become overweight over the course of the study and women who had never been overweight.

The study was limited in that data were only available from two time points and that all measures, including height and weight were self-reported. However, acknowledging these limitations, the authors believe that the data suggest that obesity is associated both cross-sectionally and longitudinally with future aspirations and lower levels of satisfaction in certain realms of life among young Australian women. One important thing to consider is that social stigma associated with obesity in some societies may explain some of the observed associations. That is, weight-based stigmatization may lead to lower life satisfaction, poorer psychological health, and poorer vocational/educational and marital aspirations. Future studies hopefully can untangle these causal mechanisms and identify how best to promote healthy and positive life aspirations and satisfaction among all young women, regardless of their weight status.

Kylie Ball, David Crawford and Justin Kenardy, Longitudinal relationships among overweight, life satisfaction, and aspirations in young women, Obes Res 12: 1019-1030 (June 2004) [Address correspondence to K. Ball, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, 3125 Victoria, Australia. E-mail: kball@deakin.edu.au]