Dietary Interventions and Quality of Life: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Abstract

Objective To systematically review the literature to examine whether there has been adequate assessment of the effects of dietary intervention on quality of life (QOL) independent of weight loss, assess which instruments are being used to measure nutrition-related QOL, identify gaps in the literature, and suggest future directions. Design Systematic review guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Statement. Results A total of 24 studies were eligible for inclusion. The Short Form–36 Health Survey was the most widely used instrument to assess QOL. Other disease-specific instruments were used. Several different dietary approaches (eg, low carbohydrate, low calorie, low fat, combinations) were recommended. Across studies, QOL generally improved after participating in behavioral weight loss interventions, but findings revealed a lack of evidence to definitively determine whether reported changes in QOL were a result of weight loss or independent of it. Conclusions and Implications It is important to consider how making broad dietary recommendations for all individuals might affect overall QOL in both positive and negative directions when considering factors other than weight loss and health improvement. If dietary interventions are adversely affecting QOL in other domains (eg, social, economic) and this relationship is not being detected or reported by current research practices, barriers for successful and sustainable dietary changes may not be fully understood.

Efficacy of intermittent empagliflozin supplementation on dietary self‐management and glycaemic control in patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes: A 24‐week randomized controlled trial

“…Notably, the tendency was remarkable with regard to the changes in variables constituting domains 2 (anxiety and dissatisfaction with treatment) and 4 (satisfaction with treatment; Figure S1B,D). The increase in diabetes treatment‐related QoL seemed to be associated with body weight loss, consistent with previous reports, while increasing self‐efficacy has also been shown to be associated with higher QoL . Thus, the significant increase in diabetes treatment‐related QoL in the intermittent group might be affected by both body weight loss and increasing self‐efficacy.…”

Quality of Life and Mental Health in Older Adults with Obesity and Frailty: Associations with a Weight Loss Intervention

“…Studies of young and middle-aged adults have shown that dietary and surgical weight loss interventions lead to a lessening of depression. Weight loss interventions have also been shown to lower stress levels (7) and to improve QOL (8, 9), although not in all trials (10, 11). Weight loss (diet and exercise) interventions offer the potential to improve mental health; however, in older adults these responses have only been explored in a small number of trials, with improvements demonstrated in health-related and overall quality of life, depression and perceived stress (8, 11–14).…”

Lifestyle factors and health‐related quality of life in adult survivors of childhood cancer: A report from the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study

“…Yeh et al reported lower QOL in 7105 adult survivors of childhood cancer compared with the general population . Lifestyle factors such as diet and physical activity are modifiable behaviors that have established effects on HRQOL in the general population . We found a clear trend of adherence to multiple lifestyle factors being associated with better HRQOL in all 8 domains.…”

“…20 Lifestyle factors such as diet and physical activity are modifiable behaviors that have established effects on HRQOL in the general population. 22,23 We found a clear trend of adherence to multiple lifestyle factors being associated with better HRQOL in all 8 domains. It is important to note that adherence to multiple healthy lifestyle factors (eg, 3-5 healthy lifestyle factors) was associated with at least onehalf of the SD increase in HRQOL.…”