Do Anxiety Disorders Play a Role in Adolescent Obesity?
Robert E Roberts1,2,3, Hao T Duong4
1UTHealth School of Public Health, San Antonio Regional Campus, 7411 John Smith Drive, Suite 1100, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA. Robert.E.Roberts@uth.tmc.edu.
Summary
Anxiety disorders did not increase obesity risk in adolescents overall, but males with anxiety disorders showed higher risk. Further research is needed on psychopathology and adolescent obesity, considering gender differences.
Area of Science:
- Adolescent Health
- Mental Health Research
- Obesity Studies
Background:
- Limited prospective research exists on anxiety disorders and adolescent obesity.
- Previous studies have not explored potential reciprocal effects between these conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively investigate the association between anxiety disorders and obesity in adolescents.
- To examine potential bidirectional relationships between body weight and anxiety disorders.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from a two-wave prospective study involving 3134 adolescents.
- Analyzed reciprocal effects between body mass index (BMI) and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) anxiety disorders.
Main Results:
- No significant association found between adolescent weight status and future anxiety disorders.
- Anxiety disorders at baseline did not predict future obesity in the general adolescent sample.
- Males with anxiety disorders exhibited an increased risk of overweight and obesity, unlike females.
Conclusions:
- Anxiety disorders may contribute to obesity risk, similar to findings with depression.
- Gender appears to be a significant moderator in the anxiety-obesity relationship.
- Further investigation is required into psychopathology's role in adolescent obesity, including moderators and mediators.
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