Fig. 1

Effect of adjusting for inflammation on the estimate of obesity-physical unhealthy days association in NHANES subjects. The ‘direct effect’ estimates the odds ratio (and confidence intervals) for the association of adult obese subjects to the number of physical unhealthy days, a measure of HRQOL. The ‘indirect effect’ estimates the same association following the inclusion of clinically raised systemic inflammation (measured as C-reactive protein) as a possible mediator. The odds ratios (and confidence intervals) for direct associations of obesity to inflammation and of inflammation to physical unhealthy days are also shown