BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine the differences between male and female bariatric surgery candidates with respect to health-related quality of life (HRQOL), health, sociodemographic variables, and interactions among these variables in a bariatric surgery practice in the United States. Women seek bariatric surgery 5 times more often than men. Research on gender differences in HRQOL is limited, and the results are conflicting. METHODS: A total of 794 surgery candidates (mean age 42.2 y; body mass index 46.9 kg/m2; 84.8% women) completed both a weight-related (Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-Lite questionnaire) and a generic (Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form-36) measure of HRQOL. Health was evaluated by questionnaire and clinical interviews. RESULTS: Compared to men, women reported reduced HRQOL on 3 of the 5 scales assessing obesity-specific HRQOL and also the physical aspects of general HRQOL. Women also had double the rate of depression (48.5% versus 22.5%), and men had double the rate of sleep apnea (80.3% versus 40.2%). Women were younger, less obese, and were less likely to be married. No gender differences were found in the association between HRQOL and co-morbidities. However, an increasing number of co-morbidities was associated with decreasing physical and mental HRQOL. Additionally, depression was associated with decreased mental HRQOL, and coronary heart disease was associated with decreased physical HRQOL. CONCLUSION: Women's reduced HRQOL, particularly in self-esteem, sexual life, and physical functioning, and their greater rates of depression, might play a role in their decision to seek bariatric surgery. Although we could not determine causality, this study is a first step toward understanding why women seek surgery 5 times more often than men.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine the differences between male and female bariatric surgery candidates with respect to health-related quality of life (HRQOL), health, sociodemographic variables, and interactions among these variables in a bariatric surgery practice in the United States. Women seek bariatric surgery 5 times more often than men. Research on gender differences in HRQOL is limited, and the results are conflicting. METHODS: A total of 794 surgery candidates (mean age 42.2 y; body mass index 46.9 kg/m2; 84.8% women) completed both a weight-related (Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-Lite questionnaire) and a generic (Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form-36) measure of HRQOL. Health was evaluated by questionnaire and clinical interviews. RESULTS: Compared to men, women reported reduced HRQOL on 3 of the 5 scales assessing obesity-specific HRQOL and also the physical aspects of general HRQOL. Women also had double the rate of depression (48.5% versus 22.5%), and men had double the rate of sleep apnea (80.3% versus 40.2%). Women were younger, less obese, and were less likely to be married. No gender differences were found in the association between HRQOL and co-morbidities. However, an increasing number of co-morbidities was associated with decreasing physical and mental HRQOL. Additionally, depression was associated with decreased mental HRQOL, and coronary heart disease was associated with decreased physical HRQOL. CONCLUSION:Women's reduced HRQOL, particularly in self-esteem, sexual life, and physical functioning, and their greater rates of depression, might play a role in their decision to seek bariatric surgery. Although we could not determine causality, this study is a first step toward understanding why women seek surgery 5 times more often than men.
Authors: Scott G Engel; Ross D Crosby; Ronette L Kolotkin; Guilford G Hartley; G Rhys Williams; Stephen A Wonderlich; James E Mitchell Journal: Obes Res Date: 2003-10
Authors: M Sullivan; J Karlsson; L Sjöström; L Backman; C Bengtsson; C Bouchard; S Dahlgren; E Jonsson; B Larsson; S Lindstedt Journal: Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord Date: 1993-09
Authors: Truls Ostbye; Ronette L Kolotkin; Hong He; Francine Overcash; Rebecca Brouwer; Martin Binks; Karen L Syrjala; Kishore M Gadde Journal: J Sex Marital Ther Date: 2011
Authors: Meg H Zeller; Jennifer L Brown; Jennifer Reiter-Purtill; David B Sarwer; Lora Black; Todd M Jenkins; Katherine A McCracken; Anita P Courcoulas; Thomas H Inge; Jennie G Noll Journal: Surg Obes Relat Dis Date: 2019-03-20 Impact factor: 4.734
Authors: Meg H Zeller; Thomas H Inge; Avani C Modi; Todd M Jenkins; Marc P Michalsky; Michael Helmrath; Anita Courcoulas; Carroll M Harmon; Dana Rofey; Amy Baughcum; Heather Austin; Karin Price; Stavra A Xanthakos; Mary L Brandt; Mary Horlick; Ralph Buncher Journal: J Pediatr Date: 2014-12-30 Impact factor: 4.406
Authors: Steven H Belle; Paul D Berk; William H Chapman; Nicholas J Christian; Anita P Courcoulas; Greg F Dakin; David R Flum; Mary Horlick; Wendy C King; Carol A McCloskey; James E Mitchell; Emma J Patterson; John R Pender; Kristine J Steffen; Richard C Thirlby; Bruce M Wolfe; Susan Z Yanovski Journal: Surg Obes Relat Dis Date: 2013-03-07 Impact factor: 4.734