Associations between anxiety, depression, antidepressant medication, obesity and weight gain among Canadian women.

• Main Authors: Anne Grundy, Michelle Cotterchio, Victoria A Kirsh, Nancy Kreiger
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2014-01-01
• Series: PLoS ONE
• Online Access: http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4059657?pdf=render

PURPOSE: Some mental illnesses have been suggested to be associated with obesity, although results are somewhat inconsistent and research has focused mainly on depression. METHODS: Associations between anxiety, depression, medications for these illnesses, and obesity were investigated cross-sectionally among women aged 25-74 (n = 3004) who participated as population controls in a cancer case-control study. Participants self-reported information on anxiety, depression, height, current weight and weight at age 25. RESULTS: No association was observed between either anxiety or depression and either current overweight or obesity status. However, depressed women taking antidepressants were more likely to be obese [OR = 1.71 (95%CI  =  1.16-2.52) daily antidepressant use; OR = 1.89 (95% CI = 1.21-2.96) ever tricyclic antidepressant use]. In the full study sample consistent positive associations between anxiety, depression and obesity among women with a history of antidepressant use, and generally negative associations among women without, were suggested. Finally, weight gain was associated with history of anxiety [5-19 kg OR = 1.29 (95% CI = 1.06-1.57); ≥ 20 kg OR = 1.43 (95% CI = 1.08-1.88)] and depression [≥ 20 kg OR = 1.28 (95% CI = 0.99-1.65)]. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest depression and anxiety may be associated with weight gain and antidepressant use may be associated with obesity.