What is a relationship between BMI and life satisfaction?

Abstract

Abstract Purpose In this study we investigate whether individuals' BMI categories are associated with life satisfaction (LS), how this association is affected by the social comparison that individuals make, and what the role of the overall BMI levels in this process is. Methods We use data for 21,577 men and 27,415 women, collected in 2016 by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, from 34 countries in Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia. To mitigate a selection bias into specific BMI categories, we use inverse-probability weighted regression-adjustment estimators. To understand the moderating effect of contextual environment we use multilevel mixed effect logistic regression models and data for national, regional, and cohort-specific BMI levels. Results We find that the association of BMI and LS differs by gender, with overweight men reporting higher LS than men with normal weight, and obese women reporting lower LS than women with normal weight. For contextual effects, we find that in the regions with low BMI levels underweight men have higher LS than underweight men in regions with high BMI levels. As for women, the effect of obesity on LS is not observed in regions with overall high BMI levels. Conversely, obese women in regions with low BMI levels report lower LS. Conclusions Our study adds additional nuance to the quality-of-life research by showing that the association between BMI and LS is, at least partially, moderated by the contextual environment, and that the character of these effects differs by gender. Key messages The association between BMI and LS is moderated by the contextual environment. The character of these effects differs by gender.