Both Obesity and Lack of Physical Activity are Associated with a Less Favorable Health-related Quality of Life in Hong Kong Chinese

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the relationships among obesity, physical activity and quality of life (QOL) in Hong Kong Chinese adults.

Methods

A cross-sectional study involving 876 subjects (32.9% men and 67.1% women, mean age: 34.8 ± 7.9 years) from a nonmanual working population. The Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36 (SF-36, Chinese version) was used for health-related QOL. Level of physical activity was assessed with self-reported questionnaire. Obesity was defined as body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m².

Results

31% of men and 9% of women were obese (overall 16.0%). Obese subjects had lower scores on some of the SF-36 subscales. As the level of physical activity decreased, mean scores on most SF-36 subscales also progressively decreased. Obese women who had no regular physical activity had lower scores on some QOL subscales than obese women who had some regular physical activity.

Discussion

Among this Hong Kong Chinese sample, both obesity and lack of physical activity are associated with lower scores on QOL.