Weight loss and health-related quality of life: results at 1-year follow-up

To evaluate the 1-year results of treatment-induced weight loss on health-related quality of life (HRQL), 32 mildly to moderately overweight persons who participated in a 13-week weight loss program completed the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) at baseline, immediately after the program, and at 1-year follow-up. At 1 year, 65.6% of participants maintained at least some weight loss. The improvements on HRQL observed immediately after treatment on the physical functioning, role-physical, general health, vitality, and mental health scales of the SF-36 were maintained only on the general health and vitality scales at 1 year. There were no significant differences between weight maintainers and weight regainers on change from baseline to 1-year follow-up on HRQL. Our findings suggest that treatment-induced weight loss among mildly to moderately overweight persons improves HRQL and that at least some of these benefits are maintained at 1-year follow-up regardless of whether the weight loss is maintained.