Association between obesity and depression in Canadians
Yue Chen1, Ying Jiang, Yang Mao
1Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. ychen@uottawa.ca
Journal of Women'S Health (2002)
|September 30, 2009
Summary
Obesity and being underweight are linked to a higher risk of depression. This risk is particularly pronounced in younger women with obesity and in middle-aged women who are underweight.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Mental Health Research
Background:
- Depression is a prevalent mental health condition with significant public health implications.
- Understanding the relationship between body weight and mental health is crucial for targeted interventions.
- Previous research suggests a link between abnormal body weight and depression, but age and sex variations require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between obesity and depression.
- To examine how these associations vary by age and sex.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 59,652 Canadian adults (aged >=18) from the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey.
- Depression was assessed using 27 questions from the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, defining depression with a 90% likelihood of a major depressive episode.
- Body weight and height were self-reported.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of depression was 5.3%, higher in women than men.
- Abnormal body weight (obesity and underweight) was associated with increased depression risk (approx. 30% and 40% increases, respectively).
- Women aged 18-39 showed a stronger association between obesity and depression (OR 1.67); women aged 40-59 showed a stronger association between being underweight and depression (OR 2.23).
Conclusions:
- Obesity is associated with an increased risk of depression, particularly in younger women (18-39 years).
- Underweight is also linked to depression, notably in middle-aged women (40-59 years).
- These findings highlight the importance of considering age and sex in the relationship between body weight and depression.
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