Study Finds Improved Mental Health Among Women Who Gained Weight Over Time

German researchers report that female participants in a study of the relationship between body weight and health-related quality of life actually experienced improved mental well-being when they gained weight, despite deterioration of physical health. Data for the study were collected over seven years from 3,000 men and women. The researchers said their findings indicate the complexity of the relationship between body weight and physical and mental health. But understanding the relationship is important for developing medically effective and cost-effective strategies to prevent and manage obesity.