Relationship of body mass index, abdominal obesity, and metabolic parameters with depression among reproductive-age women

Abstract

Background and objective: Obesity has been widely regarded as a public health concern because of its adverse impact on health. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship of body mass index, abdominal obesity, and metabolic parameters with depression among reproductive-age women. Subjects and methods: Two hundred and seventy-one women who admitted to the Endocrine and Diet Polyclinic of İzmir Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, Turkey were included. Sociodemographic characteristics were gathered using a data collection form. Biochemical findings were examined in fasting blood samples and anthropometric measurements were taken. Depressive symptoms of participants were measured with Beck Depression Inventory. This study was performed with the permission from Chief Physician of Izmir Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital (No. 4.35.94.02-003) and approval from the Senate Ethics Committee of Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine (Decision No. 431-1305). Results: Mean score of participants for Beck Depression Inventory was 17.8 ± 11.8. Body weight, body mass index and waist circumference were higher in the group with high level of depressive symptoms than in the group with low level of depressive symptoms (P < 0.05). Fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, Homeostasis Model Assessment-Insulin Resistance value, triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were also higher in the group with high level of depressive symptoms than in the group with low level of depressive symptoms; but only HOMA-IR and triglyceride differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Being overweight or obese was associated with increased risk of high level of depressive symptoms (OR = 4.853, 95% CI: 2.646–8.903). Although the ratio of having high level of depressive symptoms was higher in women with abdominal obesity (50.3%) compared to women without abdominal obesity (39.5%), the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.078). Conclusion: In this study, it was determined that the level of depressive symptoms was higher in overweight or obese women than women with normal body weight. It may be useful to monitor women who apply for weight control in terms of risk of depression.