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Psychometric evaluation of the impact of weight on quality of life-lite questionnaire (IWQOL-Lite) in a community sample

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Abstract

The short form of impact of weight on quality of life (IWQOL)-Lite is a 31-item, self-report, obesity-specific measure of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) that consists of a total score and scores on each of five scales – physical function, self-esteem, sexual life, public distress, and work – and that exhibits strong psychometric properties. This study was undertaken in order to assess test–retest reliability and discriminant validity in a heterogeneous sample of individuals not in treatment. Individuals were recruited from the community to complete questionnaires that included the IWQOL-Lite, SF-36, Rosenberg self-esteem (RSE) scale, Marlowe–Crowne social desirability scale, global ratings of quality of life, and sexual functioning and public distress ratings. Persons currently enrolled in weight loss programs or with a body mass index (BMI) of less than 18.5 were dropped from the analyses, leaving 341 females and 153 males for analysis, with an average BMI of 27.4. For test–retest reliability, 112 participants completed the IWQOL-Lite again. ANOVA revealed significant main effects for BMI for all IWQOL-Lite scales and total score. Females showed greater impairment than males on all scales except public distress. Internal consistency ranged from 0.816 to 0.944 for IWQOL-Lite scales and was 0.958 for total score. Test–retest reliability ranged from 0.814 to 0.877 for scales and was 0.937 for total score. Internal consistency and test–retest results for overweight/obese subjects were similar to those obtained for the total sample. There was strong evidence for convergent and discriminant validity of the IWQOL-Lite in overweight/obese subjects. As in previous studies conducted on treatment-seeking obese persons, the IWQOL-Lite appears to be a reliable and valid measure of obesity-specific quality of life in overweight/obese persons not seeking treatment.

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Kolotkin, R.L., Crosby, R.D. Psychometric evaluation of the impact of weight on quality of life-lite questionnaire (IWQOL-Lite) in a community sample. Qual Life Res 11, 157–171 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015081805439

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