Multidimensional Voice Assessment in Individuals with Obesity: A Cross-Sectional and Correlational Study

The aim of this study was to compare the voice characteristics of obese and non-obese individuals using auditory-perceptual evaluation, self-assessment tools, traditional acoustic parameters, and multiparametric acoustic measures, and to examine the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and voice parameters in individuals with obesity (IwO).

This prospective cross-sectional comparative study included 86 participants (43 obese, 43 non-obese). Assessments comprised maximum phonation time (MPT), auditory-perceptual evaluation with the Grade, Roughness, Breathiness, Asthenia, and Strain (GRBAS) scale, acoustic analysis including fundamental frequency (F0), jitter, shimmer, harmonics-to-noise ratio (HNR), acoustic voice quality index (AVQI), acoustic breathiness index (ABI), and dysphonia severity index (DSI) using PRAAT software, as well as self-assessment tools including the voice-related quality of life (V-RQOL) scale and the vocal fatigue index (VFI).

IwO showed significantly shorter MPT and lower HNR, as well as higher AVQI and ABI scores and lower DSI values compared with non-obese individuals (P < 0.005). In the study group, V-RQOL scores were lower, and VFI scores were higher (P < 0.001). GRBAS ratings revealed higher scores for GRBS in IwO (P < 0.05). In addition, BMI demonstrated moderate and significant correlations with several parameters, including GRB, MPT, F0, AVQI, ABI, DSI, V-RQOL, and VFI (P < 0.05).

Voice was adversely affected in IwO, and correlations with BMI showed that increasing obesity severity was linked to greater deterioration in voice parameters. Using multiparametric acoustic tools alongside traditional measures may enable a more comprehensive evaluation in this population.