Prevalence and Associations of Anxiety Symptoms among Young Overweight or Obese Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

INTRODUCTION: Overweight or obesity often co-occurs with depression among young adults. Major depressive disorder (MDD) frequently occurs alongside anxiety; nevertheless, research exploring the interaction between anxiety symptoms and MDD in young adults with overweight or obesity is limited. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of comorbid anxiety among young adults with overweight/obesity concomitant with MDD. Additionally, it aimed to identify predictors of anxiety within this demographic. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 523 young adults with overweight/obesity concomitant with MDD (age 18-35 years). Their demographic characteristics, clinical variables, and fasting biochemical parameters were collected utilizing the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). RESULTS: The prevalence of anxiety symptoms was 50.8%. Correlation analysis suggested strong associations between total HAMD scores and various factors, including total HAMA scores, body mass index, suicidal tendencies, and psychotic symptoms. Binary regression identified four clinical variables, namely, HAMD scores, thyroid-stimulating hormone levels, excitement levels, and fasting blood glucose, as significant risk factors for anxiety within this demographic. CONCLUSION: In summary, this research highlights a substantial prevalence of anxiety symptoms among young adults with overweight/obesity concomitant with MDD. Furthermore, it elucidates four risk factors associated with concurrent anxiety symptoms among this demographic. These findings have significant clinical implications.