Depressive mood and obesity in US adults: comparison and moderation by sex, age, and race

Abstract

Objective: Sustained depressive mood is a gateway symptom for a major depressive disorder. This paper investigated whether the association between depressive mood and obesity differs as function of sex, age, and race in US adults after controlling for socio-economic variables of martial status, employment status, income level and education level. Methods: A total of 44 800 nationally representative respondents from the 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey were studied. Respondents were classified as having experienced a depressive mood if they felt sad, blue, or depressed at least for 1 week in the previous month. The depressive mood was operationalized in terms of duration and sustenance, both defined based on number of days with depressive mood: 7 þ and 14 þ days. Age groups were classified as young (18-64 years) and old (65 þ years). Obesity status was classified as: not overweight/obese (BMIo25); overweight (25pBMIo30); obese (BMIX30). Results: Prevalence of prior-month depressive mood was 14.3 and 7.8% for 7 þ and 14 þ days, respectively. Controlling for race and socio-economic variables, both young overweight and obese women were significantly more likely to have experienced depressive mood than nonoverweight/nonobese women. Young overweight, but not obese, men were significantly more likely to have experienced depressive mood than nonoverweight/nonobese men. Young obese women were also significantly more likely to have a sustained depressive mood than nonoverweight/nonobese women. For old respondents, depressive mood and its sustenance were not associated with obesity in either sex. Discussion: The relationship between the depressive mood and obesity is dependent upon gender, age, and race. Young obese women, Hispanics in particular, are much more prone to depressive mood than nonobese women. Future studies testing associations between depression and obesity should be sensitive to the influence of these demographic and socio-economic variables.

Mental disorders in patients with obesity in comparison with healthy probands

“…26 There is evidence for an increased prevalence rate of mental disorders, in particular depression, in treatmentseeking obese patients, whereas the findings concerning Mental disorders in patients with obesity in comparison with healthy probands H Baumeister and M Härter obese individuals from community samples are, as yet, inconsistent. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]27 Obese individuals show a high current (4-week), 12-month and lifetime prevalence rate of comorbid mental disorders, irrespective of the underlying setting. In comparison with physically healthy probands, prevalence rates of obese individuals are significantly increased.…”

“…The findings concerning the association of obesity and mental disorders are more inconsistent. Of eight recent epidemiological studies, six found increased prevalence rates of mental disorders, [7][8][9][10][11][12] whereas two did not. 13,14 However, despite their strengths, these studies have several shortcomings, which restrict their results.…”

“…First, half of the studies focus solely on depression. [7][8][9]11,12 Two of the remaining studies are restricted to adolescents and young adults, and only used small sample sizes of obese individuals. 10,14 The only study to focus on more than one disorder, comprising a representative sample of adults aged 18-64 years, reported cross-tab calculations instead of prevalence rates.…”

“…10,14 The only study to focus on more than one disorder, comprising a representative sample of adults aged 18-64 years, reported cross-tab calculations instead of prevalence rates. 13 Second, prevalence rates of comorbid mental disorders are not based on national representative surveys in any of the studies, with the exception of those by Carpenter and co-workers 7 and Heo et al 11 To date, there is no study reporting prevalence rates of major categories of mental disorders in obese individuals on the basis of a representative national survey of an adult population. Third, except for Onyike et al 8 information about weight and height are based on selfreports.…”

Depression and anxiety among US adults: associations with body mass index

“…3 A growing body of evidence has shown that obesity, highly prevalent and increasing in the United States and worldwide, [4][5][6] is associated with an increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] However, most of the earlier studies failed to evaluate the effects of obesity-related comorbidities (ORCs), lifestyle factors (such as smoking, alcohol drinking and physical activity) or other psychosocial factors (such as general health status, emotional support and life satisfaction) on mental health simultaneously, although these factors also affect mental health status 13,[16][17][18][19] or are associated with mental disorders. 16,[20][21][22][23][24][25] On the other hand, some other studies have found no relationship 26 or an inverse association of overweight/obesity with mental disorders in men.…”