Waist Circumference, Abdominal Obesity, and Depression in Overweight and Obese U.S. Adults
Author Information
Author(s): Zhao Guixiang, Ford Earl S, Li Chaoyang, Tsai James, Dhingra Satvinder, Balluz Lina S
Primary Institution: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Hypothesis
Is there an association between waist circumference or abdominal obesity and depressive symptoms among overweight and obese U.S. adults?
Conclusion
Waist circumference and abdominal obesity are significantly associated with an increased likelihood of having major depressive symptoms or moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms among overweight and obese U.S. adults.
Supporting Evidence
- Waist circumference was significantly associated with major depressive symptoms.
- Adults with abdominal obesity were more likely to have major depressive symptoms than those without.
- The study used a large, nationally representative sample to assess the relationship between obesity and depression.
- Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 diagnostic algorithm.
- Multivariate adjustments were made for demographics and lifestyle factors.
Takeaway
If you have a big belly and are overweight, you might feel sad more often. This study found that people with more belly fat are more likely to have depression.
Methodology
The study used a cross-sectional analysis of data from the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, focusing on adults aged 20 and older who were overweight or obese.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from self-reported measures of depressive symptoms and the exclusion of clinical diagnoses of depression.
Limitations
The study's cross-sectional design limits the ability to establish causation, and it only included overweight and obese participants, which may affect generalizability.
Participant Demographics
The sample included 1,325 men and 1,114 nonpregnant women, aged 20 years and older, who were either overweight or obese.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.031
Confidence Interval
1.01-1.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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