Table 2.

BMI and general health‐related quality of life

BMI	Gender	Age 30	Age 50	Age 70
25	Female	0.80 (0.79, 0.81)	0.79 (0.79, 0.80)	0.80 (0.79, 0.80)
	Male	0.82 (0.81, 0.83)	0.81 (0.80, 0.82)	0.81 (0.80, 0.82)
28	Female	0.80 (0.80, 0.81)	0.79 (0.78, 0.80)	0.79 (0.78, 0.80)
	Male	0.82 (0.81, 0.83)	0.81 (0.80, 0.81)	0.81 (0.80, 0.82)
30	Female	0.80 (0.80, 0.81)	0.79 (0.78, 0.79)	0.78 (0.78, 0.79)
	Male	0.82 (0.81, 0.83)	0.80 (0.80, 0.81)	0.80 (0.79, 0.81)
35	Female	0.80 (0.80, 0.81)	0.78 (0.78, 0.79)	0.77 (0.76, 0.78)
	Male	0.82 (0.81, 0.83)	0.79 (0.79, 0.80)	0.78 (0.78, 0.79)
40	Female	0.80 (0.79, 0.81)	0.78 (0.77, 0.78)	0.76 (0.76, 0.77)
	Male	0.82 (0.81, 0.83)	0.79 (0.78, 0.80)	0.78 (0.77, 0.79)

Model‐based estimates of a general health‐related quality of life measure (EQ 5D), from adjusted ordinary least squares regression with non‐linear BMI term as the primary predictor, controlling for age, gender, income, education, employment, marital status, race/ethnicity, smoking status, number of people age < 19 years living in the home, physical activity, diet, history of high blood pressure, history of diabetes, history of high cholesterol and spirituality. Model‐based estimates are given for a range of BMI values, stratified by age and gender. The model‐based estimate for EQ 5D is given plus the 95% confidence interval.

BMI, body mass index.