Nutritional Status and Quality of Life: Urban–Rural Disparities and the Impact of Obesity

Ane Caroline Casaes, Camilla Almeida Menezes, Ronald Alves dos Santos, Bruna Oliveira Lopes Souza, Brenda Rodrigues Brito Cunha Silva, Yuri Tabajara, Michael Nascimento Macedo, Kelvin Edson Marques de Jesus, Thainá Rodrigues de Souza Fialho, Robson da Paixão de Souza, Isadora Cristina de Siqueira, Monica Leila Portela de Santana and Ricardo Riccio Oliveira ()
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Ane Caroline Casaes: Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Bahia, Salvador 40296-710, Brazil
Camilla Almeida Menezes: Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Bahia, Salvador 40296-710, Brazil
Ronald Alves dos Santos: Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Bahia, Salvador 40296-710, Brazil
Bruna Oliveira Lopes Souza: Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Bahia, Salvador 40296-710, Brazil
Brenda Rodrigues Brito Cunha Silva: Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Bahia, Salvador 40296-710, Brazil
Yuri Tabajara: Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Bahia, Salvador 40296-710, Brazil
Michael Nascimento Macedo: Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Bahia, Salvador 40296-710, Brazil
Kelvin Edson Marques de Jesus: Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Bahia, Salvador 40296-710, Brazil
Thainá Rodrigues de Souza Fialho: Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Bahia, Salvador 40296-710, Brazil
Robson da Paixão de Souza: Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Bahia, Salvador 40296-710, Brazil
Isadora Cristina de Siqueira: Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Bahia, Salvador 40296-710, Brazil
Monica Leila Portela de Santana: Escola de Nutrição, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador 40110-040, Brazil
Ricardo Riccio Oliveira: Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Bahia, Salvador 40296-710, Brazil

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 11, 1-14

Abstract: The shift in dietary habits has reshaped the population’s health profile, leading to a rise in overweight individuals and a subsequent decline in health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study evaluated the correlations between demographic, social, and health-related factors and HRQoL in rural and urban areas of Bahia, Brazil. The cross-sectional study included 124 participants aged 18–60 who underwent interviews, anthropometric measurements, and laboratory tests. The WHOQol-BREF instrument assessed the HRQoL. The results showed that rural participants had lower educational levels, income, and access to sanitation. Despite these challenges, rural residents reported better HRQoL in psychological, social relations, and health satisfaction domains, although differences diminished after age adjustment. Urban participants, who had higher rates of obesity and related metabolic risks experienced a negative correlation between BMI and HRQoL, especially in the social relationships domain. The study highlights that environmental and social factors, such as weight-related stigma and social connections, significantly influence HRQoL in urban areas, emphasizing the need for public health interventions that address both nutritional status and urban-specific challenges.

Keywords: quality of life (HRQoL); nutritional status; obesity; urban–rural disparities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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