Abstract
BackgroundTo investigate whether there are bi-directional associations between anxiety and mood disorders and body mass index (BMI) in a cohort of young adults.MethodsWe analysed data from the 2004–2006 (baseline) and 2009–2011 (follow-up) waves of the Childhood Determinants of Adult Health study. Lifetime DSM-IV anxiety and mood disorders were retrospectively diagnosed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Potential mediators were individually added to the base models to assess their potential role as a mediator of the associations.ResultsIn males, presence of mood disorder history at baseline was positively associated with BMI gain (β = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.14–1.40), but baseline BMI was not associated with subsequent risk of mood disorder. Further adjustment for covariates, including dietary pattern, physical activity, and smoking reduced the coefficient (β) to 0.70 (95% CI: 0.01–1.39), suggesting that the increase in BMI was partly mediated by these factors. In females, presence of mood disorder history at baseline was not associated with subsequent weight gain, however, BMI at baseline was associated with higher risk of episode of mood disorder (RR per kg/m2: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01–1.08), which was strengthened (RR per kg/m2 = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.00–1.15) after additional adjustment in the full model. There was no significant association between anxiety and change in BMI and vice-versa.ConclusionThe results do not suggest bidirectional associations between anxiety and mood disorders, and change in BMI. Interventions promoting healthy lifestyle could contribute to reducing increase in BMI associated with mood disorder in males, and excess risk of mood disorder associated with BMI in females.
Highlights
To investigate whether there are bi-directional associations between anxiety and mood disorders and body mass index (BMI) in a cohort of young adults
This study investigated whether there are bi-directional associations between anxiety and mood disorders, and BMI change in a prospective cohort of young adults
After adjustment for covariates in the base model, including age, education, family history of cardiometabolic diseases and social support score, history of mood disorder at baseline was associated with an increase in BMI (β = 0.77, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.14–1.40, P = 0.017)
Summary
To investigate whether there are bi-directional associations between anxiety and mood disorders and body mass index (BMI) in a cohort of young adults. Mental disorders, including mood disorders and anxiety disorders, and obesity or overweight are very prevalent and associated with many other diseases. The global lifetime prevalence of mood disorder and anxiety disorders is estimated to be 13 and 10%, respectively [2]. Mental disorders and overweight or Depressive-anxiety disorders may contribute to weight gain through their association with poor eating habits, physical inactivity, and poor adherence to recommended lifestyle modifications, which could influence future changes in adiposity [6, 12, 13]. Social stigma associated with excess weight or obesity may have a negative impact on body image, self-esteem, and social interactions that are related to the development of depressive-anxiety disorders [12, 13].
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