Key result
Obesity linked to ~83% higher odds of moderate to severe depression versus normal weight.
Why the study?
The relationship between depression and obesity has been studied globally, but few studies have investigated this association in Saudi Arabia.
Cross-Sectional (n=711)
There is a significant association between obesity and moderate to severe depression among adults in Saudi Arabia, particularly in young, single individuals with chronic illnesses.
Supports depression screening in obesity; cross-sectional data leave causality and practice change unresolved.
BACKGROUND: Depression is a primary cause of disability-adjusted life years lost globally. It is a common mental disorder with roughly more than 264 million adults affected. Obesity is another major health problem affecting more than 650 million adults worldwide. The presence of depression and obesity, along with each other, is associated with more negative health outcomes. OBJECTIVES: To explore the correlation between depression and obesity among adults in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and analyze this association with other variables, including patients' demographics, body mass index (BMI), and presence of chronic and psychiatric illness. Method: A cross-sectional study was done in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. A total number of 711 participants were enrolled. Arabic version of Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) was used. Body mass index (BMI) scores were used to classify participants into underweight, average weight, overweight, and obese. RESULT: It was found that 41.7% of the obese participants have moderate to severe depression, and this result was statistically significant (P = 0.027, 95% CI 1.69-1.98). The prevalence was more marked among young participants (P = 0.001). Other variables such as marital status, the presence of a chronic illness, psychiatric disorders, regular intake of medications, effect of depressive symptoms on daily activity, and the number of years diagnosed with obesity and depression all showed a statistically significant association in the presence of comorbidity of obesity and depression (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The association between depression and obesity is most prominent in young adults aged between 18 to 25 years (11.2%), being single (12.8%), having a BMI of 30 or more for 10 years or more (45.4%), the presence of associated chronic illnesses (17.6%), the presence of associated psychiatric disorder (18.3%) and intake of regular medications (18.3%). Depression and obesity are major health challenges worldwide. Many studies were done to assess the relationship between obesity and depression, but only a few were conducted in Saudi Arabia. This study was done to investigate this relationship. It will help raise awareness about the comorbidity of depression and obesity to address preventative and therapeutic measures.
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Almarhoon et al. (2021) conducted a cross-sectional in Depression and Obesity (n=711). Obesity vs. Normal weight was evaluated on Moderate to severe depression (PHQ-9 ≥ 10) (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.69-1.98, p=0.027). Obesity was significantly associated with moderate to severe depression, with 41.7% of obese participants experiencing depression compared to 29.5% of normal-weight participants (OR 1.83).
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