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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
The relationship between obesity and psychological distress is not clear
because research conducted so far is not conclusive, with some studies finding that
obese people report less mental health than normal-weight individuals, whilst others
find that obesity may work as a protective factor that prevents people with weight
problems from developing mental health issues. In this meta-analysis we review
research that compares the mental health (measured with SF-36) of class I obese
people (Body Mass Index between 30 and 34.99) with normal weight people (Body
Mass Index between 18 and 24.99) in non-clinical adult populations. The metaanalysis
conducted assumed a random-effects model and a weighted mean effect size
was calculated (d), together with its statistical significance and confidence interval.
Results reveal that obese women report less mental health than normal weight
females (d=−.26) but that obese men show more mental health than normal weight
individuals (d=.62). The results give support to the so-called “Jolly Fat” hypothesis.
Description
Keywords
Obesity Mental health SF-36 “Jolly Fat” hypothesis
Citation
Applied Research in Quality of Life, 2013, doi: 10.1007/s11482-013-9226-x