335922
Examining Association between Obesity and Depression in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities Using the Longitudinal Health Surveillance Data
Methods. This study analyzed a subset of the three-year Longitudinal Health and Intellectual Disability Study data (N= 967). The outcome was a diagnosis of depression. We employed a generalized estimating equation (GEE) model adjusting for characteristics (age, gender), life style factors (smoking, alcohol drinking, physical activity), and psychosocial factors (general health status, life events, social participation).
Results. At baseline, 33% of adults (≥ 18 years) with ID were obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2); 15% were depressed. There are no significant differences in the obesity and depression rates across three years. Results of the GEE model indicate that obesity has a positive impact (B = 0.03, 95% CI = 0.92 - 0.57) on depression after adjusting for characteristics, life style factors, and psychological factors. The significant adjusting variables included being female (B = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.92 - 0.59), age (B = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.07 - 0.27), health status (B = 0.30, 95% CI= 0.18 - 0.43), and life events (B = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.11 - 0.53).
Conclusion. There is a need to further explore effective mental health promotion programs tailored toward coping skills and promoting healthy lifestyles to lower obesity in adults with ID. A clearer understanding of mechanisms explaining the relationship between depression and obesity is also needed.
Learning Areas:
Public health or related researchSocial and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Evaluate the relationship between obesity and depression in the general population.
List at least three associated factors of obesity that need to be adjusted for adults with intellectual disabilities when examining the impact of obesity on depression.
Discuss the implication of the findings and future research directions.
Keyword(s): Disabilities, Depression
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have devoted more than 15 years to studying health related (e.g., health status, health care utilization) and health promotion for persons with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD). I have a PhD in public health, and am currently directing the Longitudinal Health and Intellectual/Developmental Disability study at the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Developmental Disabilities, University of Illinois at Chicago that addresses the long-term impact of health risk behaviors on well-being outcomes in adults with IDD.
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.