Obesity and the relationship with positive and negative affect
Open accessAbstract
Objective: To examine the cross-sectional association between overweight and obesity and positive and negative affect. Method: Participants included 273 women, aged 29–84 years, who were enrolled in the Geelong Osteoporosis Study (GOS). Weight and height were measured and overweight and obesity determined from body mass index (BMI; kg/m 2 ) according to WHO criteria. Medical history and lifestyle exposures were assessed by questionnaire. Positive and negative affect scores were derived using the validated 20-item Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and categorised into tertiles. Results: A pattern of greater negative affect scores was observed for increasing levels of BMI. Setting normal weight as the referent category, the odds for having a negative affect score in the highest tertile were sequentially increased for women who were overweight (OR = 1.31, 95% CI: 0.72–2.40) and obese (OR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.02–3.73). The association between obesity and increased negative affect was diminished by adjusting for physical illness (adjusted OR = 1.76, 95% CI: 0.91–3.42). These associations were not substantially influenced by positive affect score or other exposures. No association was detected between BMI categories and positive affect scores. Conclusions: We report data suggesting that obesity is associated with greater negative affect scores, reflecting emotions such as distress, anger, disgust, fear and shame, and that this association is attenuated by physical illness. Further investigations are now warranted to explore possible mechanistic interplay between pathological, neurobiological and psychosocial factors.
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Some researchers found no association between obesity and aspects of PPWB (positive affect, happiness, self-esteem).
“Still some researchers found no association between obesity and aspects of PPWB (positive affect, happiness, self‐esteem). 44 , 50 , 61”
From Positive psychological well-being in women with obesity: A scoping review of qualitative and quantitative primary research (2022) · cites this paper as [50]
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“Still some researchers found no association between obesity and aspects of PPWB (positive affect, happiness, self‐esteem).(44,50,61) Though PPWB was significantly lower for women with obesity overall, women who were in a sub‐cohort of those who reported higher economic status, employment, education, health, relationsh…”
Background
- Authors
- Pasco, J. A., Williams, L. J., Jacka, F. N., Brennan, S. L., & Berk, M.
- Affiliations
- Deakin University (AU)
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
- Mental Health Research Institute (AU)
- Venue
- Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2013-03-22
- Volume
- 47
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 477-482
- ISSN
- 0004-8674 (ISSN-L)
- 1440-1614
- OpenAlex
- W2118094209
- Cited by
- 48
- References
- 39
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 6 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 4 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 3
- FWCI
- 5.18
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- figshare.com
- Locations
- Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Obesity and Health Practices
- Keywords
- obesity, overweight, body mass index, negative affect, positive affect, emotional distress, physical illness, women, Geelong Osteoporosis Study
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Affect, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Body Weight, Cross-Sectional Studies, Depression, Female, Health Status, Humans, Life Style, Middle Aged, Obesity, Surveys and Questionnaires, Socioeconomic Factors, Body Mass Index
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