10.1007_s10198-011-0343-x.pdf

ORIGINAL PAPER Body weight and health-related quality of life in Catalonia, Spain Juan Oliva-Moreno ? Ana Gil-Lacruz Received: 2 August 2010 / Accepted: 27 July 2011 / Published online: 19 August 2011  Springer-Verlag 2011 Abstract Obesity poses important burdens not only on the individuals whose quality of life is reduced but on national welfare systems that have to face growing premature mor- tality rates, increase healthcare expenditures to treat obesity- related diseases, and earmark vast amounts of healthcare resources for prevention. The main goal of this paper is to analyze the relationship between excess body weight and different dimensions of health-related quality of life for people 16 years and older and to identify the health dimen- sions most affected by excess weight. We have drawn data from the Catalonia Health Survey (2006). Our results reveal a relationship between excess weight and health-related quality of life. Even after controlling for socio-economic status and objective health variables, excess weight is shown to have a significant negative effect on health-related quality of life. Subjects responses revealed that the negative effect of excess weight was felt the strongest in the health-related quality of life dimensions of mobility and pain/discomfort. Our results indicate there are important differences among gender and age groups. Women and older people are more likely to suffer from the negative consequences of excess weight. Keywords Body weight  Obesity  Health-related quality of life  Self-perceived health JEL Classifications D12  H30  I10  I18 Introduction Obesity and overweight generate a considerable loss of potential life years and quality-adjusted life years lost (QALYs), in addition to direct and indirect costs. Direct costs of obesity and overweight include inpatient and outpatient care, rehabilitation and nonmedical costs. Indi- rect costs are huge and wide ranging: sick days, sick leave, early retirement and mortality, a