OBESITY AND DEPRESSION: THEIR IMPACT ON QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between Obesity, Depression, and Quality of Life in postgraduate students. Sample comprised of 200 students with approximately equal number of obese and non-obese, taken from different colleges, universities of Wah Cantt, and Islamabad. Revised version of Beck Depression Inventory (BDI; 1971) and Quality of Life (QOL; 2003) scales were used to measure the depression and Quality of Life, respectively. Body Mass Index was calculated with the help of BMI calculator (a measuring index of obesity). Non-probability sampling was applied for data collection. Correlation, t-test, and Regression analysis were computed to see the differences and relationship between the study variables consecutively. Results indicated that students with high body mass index experience high level of depression and poor quality of life. There was a negative association between obesity and quality of life. Depression was positively associated with Body Mass Index and negatively related with quality of life. Students belong to low socio economic status experienced more depression and poor quality of life than high socio economic status people did. Female students showed more depression as compared to males students.