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Associations between waist circumference and depressive disorders.
Isabel Hach1, Uwe E Ruhl, Jens Klotsche
1Public Health Association Saxony, Medical Faculty, Technical University of Dresden, FR Germany. Isabel.Hach@mailbox.tu-dresden.de
Journal of Affective Disorders
|March 1, 2006
Summary
This study found no association between abdominal obesity, measured by waist circumference (WC), and mental disorders in German adults. Unfavorable WC was common, but did not correlate with mental health conditions.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
Background:
- Previous research suggests a link between abdominal obesity and mental health issues.
- This study investigated the association between unfavorable waist circumference (WC) and mental disorders in German adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between unfavorable waist circumference and the prevalence of mental disorders.
- To determine if abdominal obesity is linked to specific mental health conditions, particularly depressive disorders.
Main Methods:
- A representative sample of 4181 German adults (aged 18-65) participated.
- Physical examinations included body weight and waist circumference measurements.
- Structured psychological interviews (M-CIDI) assessed mental disorders.
Main Results:
- Unfavorable WC was prevalent in 26.9% of males and 31.3% of females.
- No significant association was found between unfavorable WC and any mental disorder.
- Depressive disorders were not more prevalent in individuals with unfavorable WC, including middle-aged women.
Conclusions:
- Epidemiological data does not support an association between waist circumference and mental disorders.
- Patients with unfavorable waist circumferences do not exhibit a higher prevalence of depressive disorders.
- The study could not establish causality, only co-occurrence of mental disorders and obesity.