Weighing the Association Between BMI Change and Suicide Mortality

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Suicide rates are increasing globally, necessitating the identification of novel risk factors.
• While obesity and suicide mortality have been studied, the link between weight change, suicide, and depression in adults remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) changes, suicide death, and depression in US adults.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study using data from 387 individuals who died by suicide and 1,935 matched controls.
• Body mass index (BMI) was recorded in the months preceding death (index date) and changes were analyzed.
• Statistical analysis included matching for age, sex, index year, and healthcare site.

Main Results:

• Individuals who died by suicide showed a significant decrease in BMI in the year prior to death compared to controls (mean change: -0.72 vs. 0.06 kg/m²).
• A one-unit decrease in BMI was associated with an 11% increased risk of suicide (adjusted odds ratio = 1.11).
• This association was significant even for individuals without a depression diagnosis.

Conclusions:

• Weight loss in the year before suicide is associated with increased suicide mortality.
• The findings suggest that changes in body weight may serve as a potential indicator for suicide risk, independent of other health factors.