Relationship Between BMI, Self-Rated Depression, and Food Addiction—A Cross-Sectional Study of Adults in Postpandemic Poland

Abstract

Depression and obesity are two diseases that have a profound impact on global health. The relationship between obesity and depression is strongly comorbid, tending to exacerbate metabolic and depressive symptoms. Research also shows that there are complex interactions between obesity, depression symptoms, and food addiction (FA). The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI), self-rated depression, and FA. The study sample consisted of 735 subjects (90.2% female, M_BMI = 27.58 kg/m², standard deviation (SD)_BMI = 6.58 kg/m²) aged 18–70 years (M = 39.01, SD = 14.07). The prevalence of FA symptoms was measured using the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 and self-rated depression was assessed using the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale. The prevalence of FA in the group was 41% and self-rated depression was present in 34.1% of the participants. It was found that the higher the BMI of the subjects, the higher the severity of FA, but the BMI was not significantly correlated with the severity of depression. In addition, the greater the severity of self-rated depression, the greater the severity of FA. This correlation was stronger for men than for women in the 18–30 and 31–45 age groups. The severity of self-rated depression and FA was significantly higher in people with an eating disorders. This study adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that the presence and severity of FA are associated with the severity of self-rated depression, particularly in younger adults. In addition, people with a high BMI, indicating obesity, are more likely to have FA, especially severe FA.