Weight’s impact on life’s quality: A comparative study of emotional appetite and psychological health across BMI categories

This study examined the relationship between the impact of weight on quality of life (QoL), emotional appetite, and psychological well-being. The study included 124 individuals with obesity with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30 kg/m², 129 individuals with overweight with a BMI between 25 and 29.9 kg/m², and 123 normal-weight individuals with a BMI less than 25 kg/m² who applied to certain nutrition and dietetics clinics in Istanbul. We administered the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life Scale (IWQOL), Emotional Appetite Questionnaire (EAQ), and Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWS) to the individuals. The QoL and psychological well-being scores in the group with a normal BMI showed a strong positive association. Positive emotional appetite ratings, psychological well-being, and QoL showed a noteworthy positive link in the BMI group with overweight. The study revealed a negative relationship between a bad emotional appetite and psychological well-being. The QoL and psychological well-being scores in the BMI group with obesity showed a strong positive association. In addition, the psychological well-being scores of those in the normal and overweight BMI groups were significantly higher than those in the BMI group with obesity. The negative emotional appetite scores in the BMI groups with obesity and overweight were significantly higher than those in the normal BMI group. Those in the normal BMI group had significantly higher positive emotional appetite scores than those in the BMI group with overweight did. Findings indicate significant associations between BMI, QoL, and psychological well-being, with potential interventions identified to enhance patient care and support. These results underscore the critical role of social work in addressing weight-related psychological and emotional challenges within health care settings.