Subjective Well-Being in Non-Obese Individuals in View of Abdominal Fat Distribution and Muscle Mass Index: A General Population Study.

Abstract Background While obesity has been correlated with welfare in the general population, there is not much data on the influence of body composition on welfare among the non-obese adult individuals. Methods A longitudinal, population-based study was conducted in 2017–2020. Body composition was assessed using Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry. Welfare was rated with Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Euro Quality of Life Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Results A total of 726 non-obese individuals from general population were analyzed. The mean age was 46.8 ± 15.4 years and 42.1% of participants were male. The mean value for SWLS was 23.09 ± 5.43, for EQ-VAS was 78.0 ± 14.5, and for BDI was 6.7 ± 6.6. On SWLS the waist-hip ratio had a negative impact even after adjustment for age, gender and concomitant diseases. EQ-VAS was inversely associated with android fat distribution and directly associated with muscle mass. BDI value was inversely associated with lower muscle mass, especially of the lower limbs. The well-being of women was mainly associated with the distribution of adipose tissue and less with the distribution of muscle tissue - abdominal fat distribution has a particularly negative impact on well-being among women. In contrast, men's well-being depends more on muscle mass and to a lesser extent on the distribution of fat tissue - a positive significant effect has lean mass and a circumference of thigh below gluteal fold. Conclusions Body composition is significantly associated with welfare in non-obese population. Android type fat distribution may have a negative impact while muscle mass positive.