Social Support and Mental Health among Obese and Non-obese

Context: Due to modernization, overeating becomes as trending topic due to its disturbance on our energy balance system and body weight. Behavioural issues such as overeating and sedentary lifestyle have impact on health through an increase in body mass index due to excessive deposition of body fat. Thus, it impacts on our body weight through positive energy balance in which there is an increase energy intake and decrease energy expenditure. On the other hand, it can be controlled through appropriate social support and optimum mental health. Aims: The objective of this study was to reveal predictor role of social support on mental health among obese and non-obese using regression analysis, to know mean difference in social support and mental health using Mann-Whitney test, and to identify the level of social support and mental health among obese and non-obese individuals. Methods and Material: The study design was non-experimental, quantitative study with descriptive in nature. The participants were 250 obese and 250 non-obese people and were collected from in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu, India. Both obese and non-obese participants were asked them to fill questionnaires with psychological tools namely the mental health inventory-38 (MHI-38) and multidimensional perceived social support scale (MDPSS). Results: The data distribution were in non-normal pattern and the statistical test used were non-parametric test. The results stated that the predictor variable social support has shown significant positive impact on mental health. The effect of social support over mental health was high among non-obese (R = .406, R2 = .168, adjusted R2=.164, co-efficient B = .667 and p = .000) than obese (R = .522, R2 = .272, adjusted R2 = .270, co-efficient B = .729 and p = .000). Social support and mental health have significant mean BMI difference among obese and non-obese in which obese people have higher social support and low mental health than non-obese people.