An obesity provoking behaviour negatively influences young normal weight subjects' health related quality of life and causes depressive symptoms

Abstract: In many parts of the world the prevalence of a sedentary lifestyle in combination with high consumption of food has increased, which contributes to increased risk for becoming overweight. Our primary aim was, in an intervention, to examine the influence on health related quality of life (HRQoL) and mood in young normal weight subjects of both sexes, when adopting an obesity provoking behaviour by increasing the energy intake via fast food and simultaneously adopting a sedentary lifestyle. A secondary aim was to follow-up possible long-term effects on HRQoL and mood 6 and 12months after this short-term intervention. In this prospective study, 18 healthy normal weight subjects (mean age 26±6.6years), mainly university students were prescribed doubled energy intake, and maximum 5000 steps/day, during 4weeks. An age and sex matched control group (n =18), who were asked to have unchanged eating habits and physical activity, was recruited. Before and after the intervention questionnaires including Short Form-36, Hospital Anxiety Depression scale, Center of Epidemiological Studies Depression scale, Sense of Coherence and Mastery scale were completed by the subjects in the intervention group and by the controls with 4weeks interval. Six and 12months after the intervention the subjects underwent the same procedure as at baseline and the controls completed the same questionnaires. During the intervention, subjects in the intervention group increased their bodyweight and developed markedly lower physical and mental health scores on Short Form-36 as well as depressive symptoms while no changes appeared in the controls. The increase of depressive symptoms was associated with increases of energy intake, body weight and body fat. When followed up, 6 and 12months after the intervention, physical and mental health had returned completely to baseline values, despite somewhat increased body weight. In conclusion, adopting obesity provoking behaviour for 4weeks decreases HRQoL and mood in young normal weight subjects. The effect is temporary and when followed up 6 and 12months after the short-term intervention no remaining influence is found. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]