Body Mass Index and Fatigue Severity in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

J of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Vol. 14(1) (2007) pp: 69-77

Authors and affiliations:
Ellen A. Schur MD, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, 
Seattle, WA
Carolyn Noonan MS, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, 
Seattle, WA
Wayne R. Smith PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, 
University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Jack Goldberg PhD, Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, 
Seattle, WA
Dedra Buchwald MD, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, 
Seattle, WA


Background: It is uncertain how much fatigue is related to weight in 
patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Objective: To assess the association of body mass index (BMI) and fatigue 
in CFS patients.

Methods: Consecutive patients seen in a referral-based specialty clinic 
were eligible if they met CFS criteria and had completed required measures. 
Fatigue measures were the vitality subscale of the Medical Outcomes 
Short-Form 36 and the global fatigue index from the Multidimensional 
Assessment of Fatigue.

Results: In women, there was no relationship between BMI and vitality 
subscale or global fatigue index scores (P = 0.99 and P = 0.44). For men, 
vitality subscale scores significantly decreased as BMI increased (P = 0.02).

Conclusions: In CFS patients, the prevalence of obesity was low despite 
risk factors for weight gain. Fatigue severity and BMI were unrelated in 
women with CFS, but this relationship may differ for men. 
doi:10.1300/J092v14n01_07


Keywords: Chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, fatigue, weight