Search resultsThe lifestyle of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and the effect on fatigue and functional impairments
Title
The lifestyle of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and the effect on fatigue and functional impairments
Publication type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2009
Authors
Journal
Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics
Volume
22
Issue
3
Pagination
226 - 231
Date published
2009
ISBN
09523871 (ISSN)
Keywords
Activities of Daily Living, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, alcohol, alcohol consumption, Alcohol Drinking, article, body mass, Body Mass Index, chronic fatigue syndrome, controlled study, diet, disease association, disease severity, Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic, Female, food intake, functional disease, Functional impairments, Health Behavior, Health Surveys, human, Humans, Life Style, lifestyle, major clinical study, male, Middle Aged, Netherlands, obesity, Overweight, population research, quality of life, risk assessment, risk factor, Sex Factors, smoking, Young Adult
Abstract
Background: Little is known about the lifestyle of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and its influence on symptoms of CFS. The present study aimed to investigate the lifestyle of patients with CFS, and to assess whether lifestyle factors are related to fatigue and functional impairments. Methods: Two hundred and forty-seven patients fulfilling the Center for Disease Control criteria for CFS were included. Validated questionnaires were used to collect data on lifestyle factors, smoking, intake of alcohol, fat, fibres, fruit and vegetables, body mass index (BMI), fatigue severity and functional impairments. Results: Of the CFS patients, 23% smoked, 32% had an unhealthy BMI, and none had an unhealthy alcohol intake. A majority had an unhealthy food intake: 70% had unhealthy fat, fruit and vegetable intake, and 95% had unhealthy fibre intake. Compared with the general Dutch population, significantly fewer CFS patients were overweight. Significantly more female CFS patients abstained from alcohol, and fewer male CFS patients smoked. Unhealthy lifestyle factors were not significantly associated with fatigue severity or functional impairments. Conclusions: CFS patients tend to lead a healthier lifestyle compared to the general Dutch population. However, no relationship was found between lifestyle factors and fatigue severity and functional impairments in CFS.