The Role of Quality of Life Instruments in Obesity Management: Review

Background and Scope: Obesity represents a public health concern worldwide; it is associated with a high mortality risk and impairment in quality of life (QoL). Relationship between weight loss and QoL improvements was highlighted by several studies. This article aims to summarize the literature investigating QoL among obese persons. Attention will be paid to studies assessing QoL among obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery before and after surgical treatment and to the related measurement instruments. Methods: A literature review was conducted on the major biomedical databases. Results: Compared with general population, persons with obesity report lower QoL levels in most life domains. The global QoL improvement reported in all domains after bariatric surgery can be related to weight loss and its long-term stability. Although several tools were developed to assess QoL in obese persons, they are not suited to capture the needs of people with obesity. The promising results obtained through the Laval Questionnaire suggest the importance of expanding this research domain, to identify the best assessment tools for use in clinical practice. Conclusion: The longitudinal assessment of the different QoL components can be useful to monitor the changes induced by the treatment over time.