Women with depression more susceptible to obesity.

Adult women who are depressed are more likely to be obese than women who are not depressed at any age. Depressed adult men over 60 are more likely to be obese than nondepressed men, a recent report from the National Center for Health Statistics shows.

A significant statistical difference was found in obesity rates for all identified age groups of women. For women aged 20-39, 45% of those who were depressed were obese, compared with 30% of nondepressed women. Among women aged 4059, 49% of depressed women were obese, compared with 38% of nondepressed women, and among women aged 60 or older, 47% of depressed women were obese, compared with 37% of nondepressed women.

Among depressed men, only those aged 60 or older had a significant difference in obesity rates, at 47%, compared with 35% of nondepressed men, the NCHS found. Overall, 43% of adults with depression were obese, compared with 33% of adults who were not depressed.

The report cited no statistical differences in obesity rates by ethnicity or race except for non-Hispanic white women. Among that group, 45% of those who were depressed were obese, and 32% of those who were not depressed were obese.

Caption: Obesity prevalence in adults by depression status, 2005-2010

lfranki@frontlinemedcom.com

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