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Risk of severe obesity development: Examining the role of psychological well-being related measures and sociodemographic factors in two longitudinal UK cohort studies

  • 0Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
British Journal of Health Psychology +

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April 21, 2025

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April 21, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Psychological well-being measures showed limited association with developing severe obesity in UK adults. However, poorer well-being was linked to small body mass index (BMI) changes in individuals without obesity.

Area Of Science

  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Psychology

Background

  • Psychological well-being is crucial for overall health.
  • Understanding its link to obesity development is important for preventative strategies.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To investigate the prospective association between psychological well-being and severe obesity development.
  • To analyze the relationship between depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, self-efficacy, and body mass index (BMI) changes.

Main Methods

  • Longitudinal analysis of two UK cohort studies (NCDS and BCS).
  • Examined baseline psychological measures and severe obesity (BMI ≥35 kg/m²) development.
  • Used panel data logistic and linear models with 6-7 year follow-up, controlling for sociodemographics.

Main Results

  • Limited evidence found for psychological well-being measures predicting severe obesity development.
  • Depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, and self-efficacy were associated with small changes in continuous BMI.
  • These BMI changes were mainly observed in participants without obesity at baseline.

Conclusions

  • Psychological well-being measures have limited predictive power for severe obesity development.
  • Poorer psychological well-being is associated with modest body weight changes in non-obese individuals.

Keywords:

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