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Table 1 Distribution of indicators of subjective well-being by categories of body mass index (BMI)

From: Body mass index and subjective well-being in young adults: a twin population study

  

Number

Body mass index, BMI (kg/m2)

Minimum BMI at current height (kg/m2)

Life satisfaction 1

General Health Questionnaire, GHQ-20 1

Satisfaction with leisure time, work and family relationships 1

Satisfaction with sex life 1

   

Mean (SD)

Mean (SD)

Mean (SD)

Mean (SD)

Mean (SD)

Mean (SD)

Men

All

2151

23.9 (3.1)

21.7 (2.3)

8.4 (3.0) 2

35.9 (7.4) 2

11.4 (4.3) 2

2.2 (1.0) 2

 

BMI <18.5

26

17.9 (0.5)

17.1 (0.7)

8.8 (3.0)

37.8 (10.5)

12.5 (4.2)

2.0 (1.1)

 

BMI 18.5-24.9

1496

22.4 (1.6)

20.9 (1.6)

8.5 (3.0)

36.1 (7.5)

11.4 (4.2)

2.2 (1.1)

 

BMI 25–29.9

542

26.8 (1.4)

23.5 (1.8)

8.2 (3.0)

35.4 (6.9)

11.3 (4.3)

2.1 (1.0)

 

BMI ≥30

87

32.6 (2.8)

25.4 (2.9)

8.3 (2.8)

35.6 (7.2)

11.2 (3.8)

2.4 (1.2)

Women

All

2422

22.2 (3.5)

20.0 (2.8)

8.6 (3.0) 3

38.8 (9.0) 3

11.6 (4.2) 3

2.1 (1.0) 3

 

BMI <18.5

169

17.8 (0.5)

16.9 (0.9)

8.3 (3.1)

38.6 (8.6)

11.4 (4.2)

2.0 (0.9)

 

BMI 18.5-24.9

1897

21.4 (1.7)

19.5 (1.9)

8.5 (3.0)

38.6 (9.0)

11.5 (4.1)

2.1 (1.0)

 

BMI 25–29.9

261

26.9 (1.4)

22.6 (2.4)

9.0 (2.9)

39.5 (9.2)

12.0 (4.5)

2.1 (1.0)

 

BMI ≥30

95

33.6 (3.4)

26.3 (5.1)

9.0 (3.5)

39.6 (9.0)

12.6 (4.6)

2.2 (1.0)

Female subgroups

Healthy women4

2242

22.2 (3.5)

20.0 (2.7)

8.5 (3.0)

38.5 (8.7)

11.5 (4.2)

2.1 (0.9)

 

Women with a lifetime eating disorder 5

89

22.7 (3.8)

18.8 (3.3)

9.2 (2.8)

41.7 (10.9)

12.4 (4.5)

2.1 (1.1)

 

Healthy co-twins

32

21.9 (2.4)

19.6 (1.8)

9.1 (2.5)

39.5 (9.4)

13.1 (3.5)

2.3 (1.2)

  1. 1 Higher scores indicate lower levels of well-being.
  2. 2 Skewness and kurtosis 1.0 and 3.9 for life satisfaction, 1.7 and 7.5 for GHQ-20, 0.5 and 3.2 for satisfaction with leisure time, work and family relationship, and 0.8 and 3.2 for satisfaction with sex life in men.
  3. 3 Skewness and kurtosis 0.9 and 3.5 for life satisfaction, 1.1 and 4.4 for GHQ-20, 0.6 and 3.3 for satisfaction with leisure time, work and family relationship, and 0.9 and 3.7 for satisfaction with sex life in women.
  4. 4 Healthy women were defined as not having a history of eating disorders or a twin-sister with a history of eating disorders. Women reporting any psychopathology regarding eating or weight have been excluded.
  5. 5 A lifetime eating disorder has been defined as having ever fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of DSM-IV anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa or binge-eating disorder.