Adolescent obesity and risk for subsequent major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder: prospective evidence.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
To assess whether adolescent obesity is associated with risk for development of major depressive disorder (MDD) or anxiety disorder. Obesity has been linked to psychosocial difficulties among youth.

METHODS:
Analysis of a prospective community-based cohort originally from upstate New York, assessed four times over 20 years. Participants (n = 776) were 9 to 18 years old in 1983; subsequent assessments took place in 1985 to 1986 (n = 775), 1991 to 1994 (n = 776), and 2001 to 2003 (n = 661). Using Cox proportional hazards analysis, we evaluated the association of adolescent (age range, 12-17.99 years) weight status with risk for subsequent MDD or anxiety disorder (assessed at each wave by structured diagnostic interviews) in males and females. A total of 701 participants were not missing data on adolescent weight status and had > or = 1 subsequent assessments. MDD and anxiety disorder analyses included 674 and 559 participants (free of current or previous MDD or anxiety disorder), respectively. Adolescent obesity was defined as body mass index above the age- and gender-specific 95th percentile of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth reference.

RESULTS:
Adolescent obesity in females predicted an increased risk for subsequent MDD (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 3.9; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.3, 11.8) and for anxiety disorder (HR = 3.8; CI = 1.3, 11.3). Adolescent obesity in males was not statistically significantly associated with risk for MDD (HR = 1.5; CI = 0.5, 3.5) or anxiety disorder (HR = 0.7; CI = 0.2, 2.9).

CONCLUSION:
Females obese as adolescents may be at increased risk for development of depression or anxiety disorders.

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Author information

Author/s: Anderson, Sarah E (SE); Cohen, Patricia (P); Naumova, Elena N (EN); Jacques, Paul F (PF); Must, Aviva (A);

Affiliation: Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. sanderson(-atsign-)cph.osu.edu

Grants: HD-40685 (Agency:United States NICHD) ; MH-36971 (Agency:United States NIMH) ; MH-38916 (Agency:United States NIMH) ; MH-49191 (Agency:United States NIMH) ; R21 DK64254 (Agency:United States NIDDK) ; T32 DK62032-11 (Agency:United States NIDDK)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Journal: Psychosomatic medicine (Psychosom Med), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Nov; vol 69 (issue 8) : pp 740-7

Dates: Created 2007/10/30; Completed 2007/12/10;

PMID: 17942847, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Adult
Anxiety Disorders - epidemiology
Child
Cohort Studies
Depressive Disorder, Major - epidemiology
Female

Female
Humans
Male
Obesity - epidemiology; psychology
Prospective Studies
Risk Factors
Sex Factors

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