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The Negative Association of Obesity with Subjective Well-Being: Is it All About Health?

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  • Petri Böckerman
  • Edvard Johansson
  • Samuli Saarni
  • Suoma Saarni

Abstract

In this paper we examine whether health status and functional capacity explain the fact that obese individuals report significantly lower levels of subjective well-being. We use comprehensive measures of body composition such as waist circumference, body fat percentage, and lean body mass along with body mass index. All these are measured by health professionals in a population-based sample. When controlling for health and functional status, we find very limited evidence for any independent influence of obesity on subjective well-being. This implies that the adverse effects of obesity on health and functioning are the primary explanation for the observed negative relationship between obesity and subjective well-being. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014

Suggested Citation

  • Petri Böckerman & Edvard Johansson & Samuli Saarni & Suoma Saarni, 2014. "The Negative Association of Obesity with Subjective Well-Being: Is it All About Health?," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 15(4), pages 857-867, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:15:y:2014:i:4:p:857-867
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-013-9453-8
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    2. Huffman, Sonya & Rizov, Marian, 2016. "Life Satisfaction and Diet: Evidence from the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey," 2016 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Boston, Massachusetts 235148, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    3. Débora Godoy-Izquierdo & Raquel Lara & Adelaida Ogallar & Alejandra Rodríguez-Tadeo & María J. Ramírez & Estefanía Navarrón & Félix Arbinaga, 2021. "Psychosocial and Diet-Related Lifestyle Clusters in Overweight and Obesity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-15, June.
    4. Pagan, Ricardo & Haro, Carmen Ordóñez de & Sánchez, Carlos Rivas, 2016. "Obesity, job satisfaction and disability at older ages in Europe," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 20(C), pages 42-54.
    5. Wang-Sheng Lee & Zhong Zhao, 2017. "Height, Weight and Well-Being for Rural, Urban and Migrant Workers in China," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 132(1), pages 117-136, May.
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