Relationship between Adolescents Weight Status and Depressive Symptoms: Role of Weight Perception, Weight Concern and Dietary Restrain

• Main Authors: Wei-Hsin Ting, 丁瑋信
• Other Authors: 簡國龍
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2011
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/73117047259042229258

碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 流行病學與預防醫學研究所 === 99 === Background and Objectives: The prevalence of adolescent obesity and depression increased recently, and both caused hazards to adolescent health. Many researchers studied the association between obesity and depression and the results were inconsistent. We examined the association between adolescent weight status (normal weight, overweight, obesity) and depressive symptoms, and tried to find possible mediators (weight perception, weight concern and dietary restrain). Methods: We randomly selected two junior and two senior high schools in Taipei city, and totally collected eight hundred and sixty nine questionnaires. Body mass index (kg/m2) was calculated from self-reported height and weight. They were further classified as normal weight, overweigh and obesity according to age and gender specified standards. Depressive symptom score was assessed with the CESD (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale), and CESD≧29 was defined as depressive symptoms. We analyzed the association with Chi-square test, logistic regression and structural equation modeling. Results: Totally, we collected 869 adolescents (47% girls) for data analysis. Weight status was significantly associated with depressive symptoms (P=0.02). After we striated by gender, the association in girls disappeared (P=0.37), and in boys it remained (P=0.01). Weight status was strongly associated with weight perception, weight concern and dietary restrain. Weight perception, weight concern and dietary restrain were also strongly associated with depressive symptoms. The association between weight status and depressive symptoms (OR=1.4, 95％CI: 1.1, 1.8) disappeared after controlling for weight perception, weight concern and dietary restrain (OR=1.1, 95％CI: 0.7, 1.5). Conclusions: The association between weight status and depressive symptoms were mediated by weight perception, weight concerns and dietary restrain. We need further prospective cohort study to explore the association between weight status and depressive symptoms and find possible mechanism.