Depression And Obesity

This study analyzes the link between depression and obesity in adolescents. It is found that an adolescent who is depressed has more chances of becoming obese. This information can be of help to prevent and treat the condition.

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Running Head: Depression And Obesity
Depression And Obesity
Student Name
Student ID

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Depression And Obesity
Table of Contents
Abstract.............................................................................................................................3
Objective:...................................................................................................................................3
Design, setting and participants:..........................................................................................3
Main outcome measures / Results:.......................................................................................3
Conclusions:.............................................................................................................................3
Introduction:......................................................................................................................4
Method:.............................................................................................................................4
Measures:.....................................................................................................................................4
Psychological and Behavioral Covariates:.....................................................................................5
Analysis:.............................................................................................................................6
Results:.........................................................................................................................................6
Discussion:.........................................................................................................................7
Conclusion:.........................................................................................................................8
References.........................................................................................................................9

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Depression And Obesity
Abstract
Obesity in adolescence can generally lead to obesity in adulthood. The
obesity in adulthood is strongly linked to depression mainly in case of
females.
Objective:
To analyse the link between the depression and obesity in case of
adolescents.
Design, setting and participants:
The longitudinal Survey of ACU Student Health and Well-being is a cohort
study which involves a survey administered to the students on enrolment with
ACU (1st year baseline) and selected follow up data (during 3rd year). A cohort
study of The Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale was used to
study depression. The value of BMI (kg / m2) was evaluated using the data
obtained. To define obesity, we have used BMI >= 95th percentile, overweight
>= 85 and < 95 and normal weight < 85th percentile.
Main outcome measures / Results:
At the baseline, 13.1% were overweight, 9.9% were obese and 9% were in
depression. Baseline depression was not much correlated with baseline
obesity. Out of the 9.9% who showed obesity at follow up, 79.8% of them
showed obesity at the baseline, 18.8% were shown to be overweight at the
baseline and 2% of them showed a normal weight at the baseline. If there was
depression detected at the baseline, there was obesity observed at the follow
up. The BMI z score is taken at baseline, age, gender, race, obesity condition
of the parents, single parent status and the social and economic status of the
family. The odds ratio came to be 2.25 at 95% confidence level in the interval
1.38 and 3.76. Moreover, if there was obesity at the baseline, it did not result
in depression during the follow up.
Conclusions:
An adolescent who is depressed has more chances of becoming obese. This
information can be of help to prevent and treat the condition.

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Depression And Obesity
Introduction:
Today, obesity is one of the biggest health problems [1] [2]. Due to obesity,
around 3 lakh deaths occur every year [3] and obesity also leads to many
other medical problems [4]. Today, we see people of all ages, groups or races
to be obese but in case of adolescents obesity is maximum [5]. During
adolescence, many factors can contribute to increase the risk of obesity [6].
On becoming adults, obese male adolescents have lesser chances of
marriage and obese female adolescents have a higher chance of poverty [7]
[8]. Obesity can also give rise to low self-esteem amongst the adolescents [9]
[10].
The relationship between depression and obesity is not a bidirectional relation
[11-16]. The person feels embarrassed, guilty and shameful which can lead to
other abnormalities [17]. Obesity can lead to depression if the person feels
rejected [18]. A child with depression is more likely to have a high body mass
index (BMI) when he becomes an adult [19].
If we study the time of depression which leads to obesity, we can focus on the
solutions. Our hypothesis is that if there is depression in the baseline stage,
then it will lead to increase in obesity at the follow up stage.
Method:
Sample : We have chosen the data from the longitudinal Survey of ACU
Student Health and Well-being is a cohort study which involves a survey
administered to the students on enrolment with ACU (1st year baseline) and
selected follow up data (during 3rd year).

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Depression And Obesity
Measures:
In order to measure various factors, we have used some techniques listed
below.
Obesity:
The entries made were height in feet and inches and weight was in pounds.
By using 2000 Centres for Disease Control and Prevention growth charts, we
calculated the BMI percentile and z scores [24].
Depression:
We used Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) in
order to analyse the depression related symptoms.
Psychological and Behavioral Covariates:
We have used 4 of them. These all 4 have been measured at the baseline.
Self Esteem:
It was done using 6 item personal self image scale which was given by
Resnick et al for Add Health analyses [20].
Smoking:
The cigarette smoking behaviour was studied using 5-level variable.
Delinquent Behavior:
15 items were studied in Add Health like destruction of other’s property, telling
lies, stealing, running away, fighting etc.
Low Physical Activity:
A low physical activity was defined as something that is less than or equal to 3
bouts of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week.
Socio demographic Variables:

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Depression And Obesity
We used age, gender, race, the number of parents living with the adolescent
(0,1,2), house hold income, parental education and whether the parents are
obese etc.
Analysis:
In order to reduce the errors, we have used normalized weight values. We
used 2-tailed significance tests using SUDAANV8.0. Chi square tests have
also been used. We also used logistic regression models. We studied the
effect of baseline depression on follow-up BMI status.
Results:
Table 1
AOR 95% CI
Age 0.84 0.78, 1.21
Gender (Male) 1.5 1.25,2.37
Race
White, non-hispanic 1
Black , non-hispanic 1.74 1.31,2.28
Hispanic 1.2 0.95,1.60
2 parents at home 1.16 0.83,1.28
No. Of obese parents 2.95 2.23,3.12
Parental education 0.74 0.59,0.73
Depression at baseline 0.85 0.72,1.2
We have found that at the baseline, 13.1% of the students are overweight,
9.9% of them are obese and 9% are in depression. We also find that the
baseline depression is very less correlated with the baseline obesity. From
the 9.9% of the students who showed obesity at the follow up, 79.8% of them
showed obesity at the baseline also, 18.8% of the students were shown to be

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Depression And Obesity
overweight at the baseline and 2% of them showed a normal weight at the
baseline. If there was depression detected at the baseline, then there was
obesity observed at the follow up also. This result is significant for us. The
BMI and the z score are taken at baseline considering various factors like
age, gender, race, obesity condition of the parents, single parent status and
the social and economic status of the family. It has been found that the odds
ratio comes out to be equal to 2.25 at 95% confidence level in the interval
given by 1.38 and 3.76. Moreover, we find that if there was obesity at the
baseline, it did not result in depression during the follow up. So, we see that
the vice versa may not be true.
Discussion:
Using the data from The longitudinal Survey of ACU Student Health and Well-
being is a cohort study which involves a survey administered to the students
on enrolment with ACU (1st year baseline) ans selected follow up data(during
3rd year), of more than 5000 adolescents who were surveyed in 2015 and
again after 3 years, we have seen that depression symptoms at the baseline
show growth of obesity in end of 3 years. The adolescents who were not
obese at the baseline and had depression symptoms, then their odds to
become obese after 3 years almost became 2 times. Other factors like self-
esteem, physical activity, obesity of parents and educational level of parents
have been assumed to be controlled.
Once someone develops obesity, irrespective of the age, it is very difficult to
treat [28][29]. But treatment of depression in the individuals is easier [27]. So,
treating depression at the right stage may prevent obesity to a large extent. A
high level of stress can lead to obesity and may lead to reduction of
metabolism which can further make the person obese. Proper medicines must

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Depression And Obesity
be provided as obesity and depression both have some link to the brain. So,
timely treatment can stop the person from becoming obese.
A high level of depression and obesity can act as a hindrance between the
overall development process of the adolescent. Throughout the world, obesity
as well as depression are increasing day by day. But the reasons for this are
not known. Obesity is a disorder which is not homogenous in nature [26].
When a person is depressed, then the appetite of the person may change. He
tends to eat more when he is depressed. There are reasons related to brain
for these disorders. But there are social reasons as well which lead to
increase in depression levels and obesity. One such reason is decrease in the
physical activity as it has become unsafe for the children to play outside their
homes. Other reason is the isolation of the children socially. All these
problems can be sorted out if adequate steps are taken at the school level
also. Schools can include some outdoor activities in their curriculum and
ensure a safe atmosphere for the students so that they are exposed socially.
This can definitely lead to a decrease in the depression levels and hence
reduce obesity amongst the adolescents.
Conclusion:
We can conclude that the symptoms of depression in adolescence can lead
to increase in obesity risk after 3 years. In order to prevent obesity in
adulthood, it’s important to avoid any kind of depression in adolescents.

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Depression And Obesity
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