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Association between Changes in Waist Circumference (WC) and Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) among Participants in a University Worksite Wellness Program (WWP)
Author(s) -
TougerDecker Riva,
Marcus Andrea,
Radler Diane,
Griehs Rachel
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.736.28
Subject(s) - waist , medicine , confidence interval , quality of life (healthcare) , circumference , obesity , demography , physical therapy , nursing , geometry , mathematics , sociology
Methods: Participants enrolled in a university‐based WWP between January 2013 and May 2014, received individual counseling with a Registered Dietitian (RD) and 12 weeks of group lifestyle education sessions. At both baseline and follow‐up, participants completed the CDC's “Healthy Days Measure” and had their WC measured. The Healthy Days core module captures the number of days (of the last 30) that physical or mental health was “not good.” Physically and mentally unhealthy days are added together to create the Summary Score (SS), a marker of HRQoL. Changes in SS and WC were calculated by subtracting baseline from follow‐up value. The sample was grouped based on pattern of WC change: gain, no change, loss of <5cm, and loss of 蠅5cm. Mean changes in SS by WC change group with 95% confidence intervals are reported. Results: There were 146 participants; 89% (n=130) women; mean age of 46.6 years (SD=12.1). Changes in SS by WC change group form a J‐shaped relationship. The gain WC group had a mean loss of 2.8 unhealthy days (95% CI: ‐7.1, 1.5) while the no change group had a mean gain of 2.8 unhealthy days (95% CI: ‐6.5, 12.2). The loss of WC <5 cm group had a mean loss of 1.4 unhealthy days (95% CI: ‐3.8, 1.1). SS decreased by a mean of 6.7 unhealthy days (95% CI: ‐10.3, ‐2.6) for those that lost 蠅5 cm indicating a statistically significant reduction which is nearly 5 times that of those who lost <5 cm or gained. Conclusion Reductions in WC are associated with significant reductions in unhealthy days among participants. Further research is warranted to examine associations and factors that may contribute to them. Funding Source: Internally supported WWP.