Depressive mood and abdominal fat distribution in overweight premenopausal women

There is increasing evidence that depressive mood is associated with central obesity, but little is known about the association between depression and abdominal fat distribution. This study investigated this relationship in premenopausal women.

We recruited 101 overweight premenopausal women who had no eating disorders as defined using the DSM IV criteria. Depressive mood was assessed using Zung's Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). Areas of visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous (SAT) adipose tissue at the level of vertebral body L(4)-L(5) were measured using computed tomography. Associations of VAT, SAT, and the ratio of VAT to SAT with natural logarithmic transformation [(ln)]SDS were evaluated using linear regression. Anthropometric indices and physical fitness were also measured. Information on socioeconomic status, education level, and alcohol and smoking habits was obtained using self-administered questionnaires. A hospital nutritionist assessed nutritional status. All of these factors were adjusted for as possible confounding factors in the analyses.

The (ln)SDS score showed a positive association with the area of VAT, even after adjusting for the confounders mentioned above (p < 0.01). BMI, waist circumference, maximal oxygen uptake, and age were also associated with the area of VAT (all p < 0.05). In contrast, the (ln)SDS score was not associated with SAT (p > 0.10).

We showed that depressive mood is associated with VAT, not with SAT, in overweight premenopausal women. These findings may explain some of the association between depression and coronary heart disease. More studies are needed to elucidate the causal relationship.