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Cited by 264Eating Disorders and BehaviorsObesity, Physical Activity, DietMental Health Treatment and Access

Bidirectional association between depression and obesity in middle–aged and older women

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Pan, A, Sun, Q, Czernichow, S, Kivimaki, M, Okereke, O I, Lucas, M, Manson, J E, Ascherio, A +1 more·2012·International Journal of Obesity
DOI 10.1038/ijo.2011.111PMC PMC3233636
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Abstract

Objective:Although it has been hypothesized that the depression–obesity relation is bidirectional, few studies have addressed this hypothesis in a prospective setting. We aimed to examine the bidirectional relationship in middle-aged and elderly women.Subjects:A total of 65 955 women aged 54–79 years in the Nurses’ Health Study were prospectively followed from 1996 to 2006 with updated information on body weight, depression status and various covariates every 2 years. Depression was defined as self-report of physician-diagnosed depression and/or antidepressant use. Obesity was defined as a BMI ⩾30.0 kg m−2. The first three waves (1996–2000) were used as the baseline period and the last three waves (2002–2006) were used as the follow-up period.Results:After adjusting for baseline age, physical activity, comorbidities, BMI and other covariates, depression at the baseline period was associated with an increased risk of obesity at the follow-up period in all women (multivariate-adjusted odds ratio (OR), 1.38; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.24–1.53) and baseline non-obese women (OR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.36–1.67). In the opposite direction, after adjusting for baseline age, physical activity, comorbidities, depression status and other covariates, obese women at baseline had a moderately increased risk of depression at the follow-up period compared with normal-weight women (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.03–1.18), and this association was similar for new onset of depression (OR for obese versus normal weight women, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.02–1.20).Conclusions:Our results suggest a bidirectional association between depression and obesity in middle-aged and elderly women. Future studies are needed to confirm our findings in different populations, and investigate the potential mechanisms underlying this association. Our results underscore the importance of early detection and proper behavioral modifications to lower the burden of both conditions.

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Authors
Pan, A., Sun, Q., Czernichow, S., Kivimaki, M., Okereke, O. I., Lucas, M., Manson, J. E., Ascherio, A., & Hu, F. B.
Affiliations
  • Harvard University (US)
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
  • Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (FR)
Corresponding author
Hu, F B
ORCID
Venue
International Journal of Obesity
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2011-06-07
Volume
36
Issue
4
Pages
595-602
ISSN
  • 0307-0565 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-5497
DOI
10.1038/ijo.2011.111
PMC
PMC3233636
OpenAlex
W2044505861
Semantic Scholar
7ffc1c56042d23d63ffbddbd9bae4a84a6c28998
Cited by
264
References
45
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 32 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 28 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 26 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 6
FWCI
17.27
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • International Journal of Obesity (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • British Heart Foundation (RG/07/008/23674)
  • National Institute on Aging (AG034454, R01AG034454, K08AG029813, R01AG013196)
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (K99HL098459, R01HL036310, HL036310-20A2)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH091448)
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R01DK058845, P30DK046200, P30 DK-46200, DK58845, P30DK040561)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
Keywords
depression, obesity, bidirectional relationship, middle-aged women, older women, body mass index, antidepressant use, new-onset depression, physical activity, comorbidities
MeSH terms
Adult, Depression, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Middle Aged, Motor Activity, Nurses, Obesity, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, United States, Weight Gain, Comorbidity, Body Mass Index, Prevalence, Odds Ratio

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