Subjective well-being in non-obese individuals depends strongly on body composition

Sci Rep. 2021 Nov 8;11(1):21797. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-01205-6.

Abstract

While obesity has been correlated with welfare in the general population, there is not much data on the influence of body composition on welfare among the non-obese adult individuals. In this study, a total of 726 non-obese individuals from the general population were analyzed. The mean age was 46.8 ± 15.4 years and 42.1% of participants were male. The anthropometric measurements and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) were done. The mean value for the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) was 23.09 ± 5.43, for Euro Quality of Life Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS) was 78.0 ± 14.5, and for the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was 6.7 ± 6.6. On the SWLS, the higher waist-hip ratio had a negative impact even after adjusting for age, gender, and concomitant diseases. EQ-VAS was inversely associated with android fat distribution and directly associated with muscle mass. BDI value was inversely associated with lower muscle mass, especially in lower limbs. The well-being of women was mainly associated with the distribution of adipose tissue and less with the distribution of muscle tissue-abdominal fat distribution has a particularly negative impact on well-being among women. In contrast, men's well-being depends more on muscle mass and to a lesser extent on the distribution of fat tissue-a positive significant effect has lean mass and a circumference of thigh below gluteal fold.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Absorptiometry, Photon
  • Age Factors
  • Body Composition*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Personal Satisfaction*
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Quality of Life / psychology
  • Sex Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Waist-Hip Ratio / psychology