Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

The prospective association between obesity and major depression in the general population: does single or recurrent episode matter?

Authors: Yeshambel T Nigatu, Ute Bültmann, Sijmen A Reijneveld

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2015

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Obesity and major depressive disorder (MDD) are important public health problems. MDD is a heterogeneous disorder and the direction of its association with obesity remains unclear. Evidence grows that recurrent MDD (MDD-R) differs in etiology and prognosis from single episode MDD (MDD-S), which could affect associations with obesity. However, evidence on this differential effect is lacking. The aim of this study was to examine the direction of the association between obesity and MDD, single or recurrent episode.

Methods

A longitudinal study was performed in a cohort of 1094 participants of the PREVEND study, on whom data were collected at baseline and at an average 2-year follow-up. MDD-S and MDD-R were assessed by the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI 2.1). Obesity was defined as Body Mass Index ≥ 30 kg/m2. Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine whether obesity predicts MDD-S/MDD-R or vice versa, adjusted for potential confounders.

Results

Prospective analyses showed that BMI at baseline was associated with the onset of MDD-R (Odds ratio, OR = 1.32; 95% confidence interval, 95%CI: 1.11; 1.57) during 2-year follow-up, but not with the onset of MDD-S (OR = 0.98; 95%CI: 0.89; 1.07). Obesity at baseline was not associated with the onset of MDD-S during follow-up (OR = 0.75; 95%CI: 0.25; 2.30), but associated with the onset of MDD-R during follow-up (OR = 11.63; 95%CI: 1.05; 128.60). Neither MDD-S nor MDD-R were associated with the development of obesity during 2-year follow-up (OR = 1.67, 95%CI: 0.64; 4.29 and OR = 2.32, 95%CI: 0.82; 6.58, respectively).

Conclusions

Our findings add to the available evidence that obesity might specifically be associated with the onset of multiple episodes of major depression (MDD-R). Although the reverse association was not found, MDD-R tends to be also associated with subsequent development of obesity, but larger studies are needed to fully assess this issue. The heterogeneity of MDD should be considered when examining the effect of obesity on MDD.
Literature
1.
2.
3.
4.
Bromet E, Andrade LH, Hwang I, Sampson NA, Alonso J, de Girolamo G, et al. Cross-national epidemiology of DSM-IV major depressive episode. BMC Med. 2011;9:90-7015-9-90.CrossRef
5.
Olfson M, Marcus SC. National patterns in antidepressant medication treatment. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2009;66:848–56.PubMedCrossRef
6.
Kessler RC, Berglund P, Demler O, Jin R, Koretz D, Merikangas KR, et al. The epidemiology of major depressive disorder: results from the national comorbidity survey replication (NCS-R). JAMA. 2003;289:3095–105.PubMedCrossRef
7.
Chen Y, Jiang Y, Mao Y. Association between obesity and depression in Canadians. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2009;18:1687–92.CrossRef
8.
Simon GE, Ludman EJ, Linde JA, Operskalski BH, Ichikawa L, Rohde P, et al. Association between obesity and depression in middle-aged women. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2008;30:32–9.PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef
9.
Onyike CU, Crum RM, Lee HB, Lyketsos CG, Eaton WW. Is obesity associated with major depression? Results from the third national health and nutrition examination survey. Am J Epidemiol. 2003;158:1139–47.PubMedCrossRef
10.
Scott KM, Bruffaerts R, Simon GE, Alonso J, Angermeyer M, de Girolamo G, et al. Obesity and mental disorders in the general population: results from the world mental health surveys. Int J Obes (Lond). 2008;32:192–200.CrossRef
11.
Crisp AH, Queenan M, Sittampaln Y, Harris G. ‘Jolly fat’ revisited. J Psychosom Res. 1980;24:233–41.PubMedCrossRef
12.
Zhao G, Ford ES, Li C, Tsai J, Dhingra S, Balluz LS. Waist circumference, abdominal obesity, and depression among overweight and obese U.S. Adults: national health and nutrition examination survey 2005–2006. BMC Psychiatry. 2011;11:130. doi:10.1186/1471-244X-11-130.PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef
13.
de Wit L, Luppino F, van Straten A, Penninx B, Zitman F, Cuijpers P. Depression and obesity: a meta-analysis of community-based studies. Psychiatry Res. 2010;178:230–5.PubMedCrossRef
14.
Gariepy G, Wang J, Lesage AD, Schmitz N. The longitudinal association from obesity to depression: results from the 12-year national population health survey. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2010;18:1033–8.CrossRef
15.
Kivimaki M, Batty GD, Singh-Manoux A, Nabi H, Sabia S, Tabak AG, et al. Association between common mental disorder and obesity over the adult life course. Br J Psychiatry. 2009;195:149–55.PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef
16.
Luppino FS, de Wit LM, Bouvy PF, Stijnen T, Cuijpers P, Penninx BW, et al. Overweight, obesity, and depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2010;67:220–9.PubMedCrossRef
17.
Roberts RE, Deleger S, Strawbridge WJ, Kaplan GA. Prospective association between obesity and depression: evidence from the alameda county study. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2003;27:514–21.PubMedCrossRef
18.
Atlantis E, Ball K. Association between weight perception and psychological distress. Int J Obes (Lond). 2008;32:715–21.CrossRef
19.
Roberts RE, Kaplan GA, Shema SJ, Strawbridge WJ. Are the obese at greater risk for depression? Am J Epidemiol. 2000;152:163–70.PubMedCrossRef
20.
Pan A, Sun Q, Czernichow S, Kivimaki M, Okereke OI, Lucas M, et al. Bidirectional association between depression and obesity in middle-aged and older women. Int J Obes (Lond). 2012;36:595–602.CrossRef
21.
Chen L, Eaton WW, Gallo JJ, Nestadt G. Understanding the heterogeneity of depression through the triad of symptoms, course and risk factors: a longitudinal, population-based study. J Affect Disord. 2000;59:1–11.PubMedCrossRef
22.
Patten SB. International differences in major depression prevalence: what do they mean? J Clin Epidemiol. 2003;56:711–6.PubMedCrossRef
23.
Fava GA, Ruini C, Belaise C. The concept of recovery in major depression. Psychol Med. 2007;37:307–17.PubMedCrossRef
24.
Kendler KS, Thornton LM, Gardner CO. Stressful life events and previous episodes in the etiology of major depression in women: an evaluation of the “kindling” hypothesis. Am J Psychiatry. 2000;157:1243–51.PubMedCrossRef
25.
Bos EH, Bouhuys AL, Geerts E, Van Os TW, Van der Spoel ID, Brouwer WH, et al. Cognitive, physiological, and personality correlates of recurrence of depression. J Affect Disord. 2005;87:221–9.PubMedCrossRef
26.
Ormel J, Oldehinkel AJ, Brilman EI. The interplay and etiological continuity of neuroticism, difficulties, and life events in the etiology of major and subsyndromal, first and recurrent depressive episodes in later life. Am J Psychiatry. 2001;158:885–91.PubMedCrossRef
27.
Stegenga BT, Geerlings MI, Torres-Gonzalez F, Xavier M, Svab I, Penninx BW, et al. Risk factors for onset of multiple or long major depressive episodes versus single and short episodes. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2013;48:1067–75.PubMedCrossRef
28.
Cizza G, Ronsaville DS, Kleitz H, Eskandari F, Mistry S, Torvik S, et al. Clinical subtypes of depression are associated with specific metabolic parameters and circadian endocrine profiles in women: the power study. PLoS One. 2012;7:e28912.PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef
29.
Penninx BW, Milaneschi Y, Lamers F, Vogelzangs N. Understanding the somatic consequences of depression: biological mechanisms and the role of depression symptom profile. BMC Med. 2013;11:129-7015-11-129.CrossRef
30.
Thormann J, Chittka T, Minkwitz J, Kluge M, Himmerich H. Obesity and depression: an overview on the complex interactions of two diseases. Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr. 2013;81:145–53.PubMedCrossRef
31.
Federico A, D’Aiuto E, Borriello F, Barra G, Gravina AG, Romano M, et al. Fat: a matter of disturbance for the immune system. World J Gastroenterol. 2010;16:4762–72.PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef
32.
Tak LM, Bakker SJ, Rosmalen JG. Dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and functional somatic symptoms: a longitudinal cohort study in the general population. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2009;34:869–77.PubMedCrossRef
33.
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 4th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; 1994.
34.
Lehtinen V, Sohlman B, Nummelin T, Salomaa M, Ayuso-Mateos JL, Dowrick C. The estimated incidence of depressive disorder and its determinants in the Finnish ODIN sample. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2005;40:778–84.PubMedCrossRef
35.
Baune BT, Stuart M, Gilmour A, Wersching H, Arolt V, Berger K. Moderators of the relationship between depression and cardiovascular disorders: a systematic review. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2012;34:478–92.PubMedCrossRef
36.
Patten SB. Selection bias in studies of major depression using clinical subjects. J Clin Epidemiol. 2000;53:351–7.PubMedCrossRef
37.
Debette S, Beiser A, Hoffmann U, Decarli C, O’Donnell CJ, Massaro JM, et al. Visceral fat is associated with lower brain volume in healthy middle-aged adults. Ann Neurol. 2010;68:136–44.PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef
38.
Kronmuller KT, Schroder J, Kohler S, Gotz B, Victor D, Unger J, et al. Hippocampal volume in first episode and recurrent depression. Psychiatry Res. 2009;174:62–6.PubMedCrossRef
39.
MacQueen GM, Campbell S, McEwen BS, Macdonald K, Amano S, Joffe RT, et al. Course of illness, hippocampal function, and hippocampal volume in major depression. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003;100:1387–92.PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef
40.
41.
Patten SB, Williams JV, Lavorato DH, Brown L, McLaren L, Eliasziw M. Major depression, antidepressant medication and the risk of obesity. Psychother Psychosom. 2009;78:182–6.PubMedCrossRef
42.
Zimmermann U, Kraus T, Himmerich H, Schuld A, Pollmacher T. Epidemiology, implications and mechanisms underlying drug-induced weight gain in psychiatric patients. J Psychiatr Res. 2003;37:193–220.PubMedCrossRef
43.
Sussman N, Ginsberg DL, Bikoff J. Effects of nefazodone on body weight: a pooled analysis of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor- and imipramine-controlled trials. J Clin Psychiatry. 2001;62:256–60.PubMedCrossRef
44.
Kivimaki M, Hamer M, Batty GD, Geddes JR, Tabak AG, Pentti J, et al. Antidepressant medication use, weight gain, and risk of type 2 diabetes: a population-based study. Diabetes Care. 2010;33:2611–6.PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef
Metadata
Title
The prospective association between obesity and major depression in the general population: does single or recurrent episode matter?
Authors
Yeshambel T Nigatu
Ute Bültmann
Sijmen A Reijneveld
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-1682-9

Other articles of this Issue 1/2015

BMC Public Health 1/2015 Go to the issue

Research article

Sociodemographic and health-(care-)related characteristics of online health information seekers: a cross-sectional German study

Research article

Health impacts from living near a major industrial park in Oman

Research article

Determinants of underweight, stunting and wasting among schoolchildren

Research article

Filter presence and tipping paper color influence consumer perceptions of cigarettes

Research article

Osteoarthritis prevalence and modifiable factors: a population study

Research article

The relationship between mild alcohol consumption and mortality in Koreans: a systematic review and meta-analysis