176233 Relationship between depression and obesity among US women

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Jonetta L. Johnson, MPH , School of Public Health, Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Lisa A. DeRoo, PhD , Chronic Disease Epidemiology Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC
Dale P. Sandler, PhD , Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC
Background:

The prevalence of obesity and depression have increased over time in the U.S. We explored the association between obesity and depression in U.S. women.

Methods:

We used baseline data from the first 21,618 women enrolled in the NIEHS Sister Study, a prospective study of U.S. and Puerto Rican women aged 35-74 with a sister with breast cancer. Current height and weight were measured during home visits. Doctor-diagnosed depression, the number of times women lost and gained 20 pounds, and covariate information were reported in telephone interviews. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for depression by BMI category (25.0-29.9 overweight, 30.0-34.9 obese I, 35.0-39.9 obese II, 40.0+ obese III with referent normal weight < 25.0) and weight cycling categories, adjusting for confounders.

Results:

Compared with normal weight women, overweight and obese women had higher odds of depression and ORs increased with increasing body size: Overweight OR= 1.27, 95% CI: 1.16- 1.39; Obesity I OR=1.76, 95% CI: 1.58– 1.95; Obesity II OR= 1.67, 95% CI: 1.44- 1.94; Obesity III OR= 2.26, 95% CI: 1.90- 2.69. Weight change ± ≥ 20lbs was also associated with higher odds of depression: 1-2 times OR= 1.52, 95% CI: 1.38- 1.67; 3-4 times OR= 1.60, 95% CI: 1.40- 1.83; 5+ times OR= 1.67, 1.46- 1.92; with referent 0 times.

Conclusion:

Obesity and weight cycling were associated with depression in adult women. Informing health care providers about the association between weight and depression may facilitate prevention and screening efforts.

Learning Objectives:
1.Describe the prevalence of obesity and depression and identify the mechanisms through which they are associated. 2.Articulate the importance of using weight cycling as a predictor of depression and discuss ways in which the variable is best modeled. 3.Discuss next steps for researchers and health care providers interested in further investigating the relationship between obesity and depression among similar populations.

Keywords: Obesity, Depression

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I worked with the project during a summer internship at NIEHS and kept contact through work on the project for the last 1.5 years. In regards to the current abstract, I designed the research question and early stages of the data analysis procedures. I have a MPH in Epidemiology and I am working on a PhD in Health Behavior and Health Education.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Obesity Epidemiology Poster Session
See more of: Epidemiology