Overweight and depressive symptoms among African-American women

In a national survey, a correlation between overweight and depression was explained by dieting and poor health. This study examines overweight and depressive symptoms among urban African-American women, taking into account demographic factors, health status and practices, and psychosocial constructs.

Respondents are 429 participants in a pilot for a culturally tailored intervention promoting healthful eating and exercising. Anthropomorphic and self-administered questionnaire data were collected at a community health club site.

Controlling for demographic factors, overweight is associated with symptoms of depression, a relationship that is partially explained by health status, but not by dietary restraint. Using multiple regression, poor health status, alcohol intake, hostility, and low levels of ethnic identity (connectedness with the African-American community) are independent predictors of depressed mood. In this study, dietary restraint reflects healthful eating and is inversely related to depression. The overweight/depression association is stronger among women with high levels of education and high levels of ethnic identity (statistical interactions).

Poor health likely contributes over time to both overweight and depressed mood. Ethnic identity enhancement strategies should be studied for their effectiveness in strengthening identity and for their potential in attracting individuals especially likely to benefit from lifestyle change programs.