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Updated: May 30, 2026
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Published on: June 13, 2021
Weight-depression association in a high-risk maternal population
Asnat Walfisch1, Ilan Matok, Corey Sermer
1The Motherisk Program, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Summary
Maternal depression and overweight are linked, with depressed women showing significantly higher body weight. Antidepressant use also predicts maternal weight, highlighting the need to address both conditions for better pregnancy outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal health
- Reproductive psychiatry
- Maternal mental health
Background:
- Maternal depression and overweight pose risks to perinatal health.
- These conditions are often interrelated.
- Understanding their connection is crucial for high-risk maternal populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal weight and depressive symptoms.
- To explore this relationship in a high-risk maternal cohort.
Main Methods:
- The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was administered to 352 women.
- Associations between EPDS scores, maternal weight, and other factors were analyzed.
- Data were collected from October 2007 to April 2010 at the Motherisk Clinic.
Main Results:
- Twenty-seven percent of women had diagnosed depression.
- Depressed women had significantly higher body weight (p = 0.016), a finding consistent in pregnant subgroups.
- Higher EPDS scores correlated significantly with body weight (p = 0.027).
- Antidepressant use was an independent predictor of maternal weight.
Conclusions:
- A strong association exists between maternal weight and depressive symptoms.
- Antidepressant therapy independently predicts maternal weight.
- Addressing both maternal overweight and depression is essential for optimal pregnancy management due to their treatable nature and potential adverse effects.
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