Association of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms and Adiposity Among Adolescent Females, Using Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association between anxiety and depressive symptoms and obesity among adolescent females using objective measures of adiposity, and evaluate for moderating effects of race and age. This is a cross-sectional analysis of 198 females ages 11, 13, 15, and 17 years (mean 14.6, SD 2.2). Adiposity measures include BMI, BMI Z-score (BMI-Z), percent body fat from Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA), and fat distribution (fat mass upper vs. lower body regions from DXA). Symptoms of anxiety were measured with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; depressive symptoms with the Children's Depression Inventory. Trait anxiety and depressive symptoms were positively associated with BMI and percent body fat. No interaction of anxiety/depressive symptoms with race or age on measures of adiposity was detected. Symptoms of anxiety and depression are associated with percent body fat among adolescent females, linking psychological distress with a physiological measure of adiposity.

Associations between anxious-depressed symptoms and cardiovascular risk factors in a longitudinal childhood study

“…Consistent with adult studies, children with more depressive symptoms are at increased risk of being obese (Cortese et al, 2009;Goodman and Whitaker, 2002;Hillman et al, 2010;Mustillo et al, 2003;Richardson et al, 2006). Few childhood studies, however, have examined the influence of depressive symptoms on CVD risk factors other than obesity.…”

“…Two other studies have also reported associations between depressive symptoms and adiposity only in girls (Chaiton et al, 2009;Hillman et al, 2010). A possible mechanism underlying the gender differences between anxious-depressive scores and adiposity at age 14 may be sex-related differences in hormones such as leptin.…”

Gender differences in factors associated with overweight and obesity among civil servants in Lagos, Nigeria

“…In Nigeria, the burden of overweight and obesity is increasing and estimation showed over 20 percent increase in the burden within the last fifteen years (Akarolo-Anthony et al, 2014;Adebayo et al, 2014;Chukwuonye et al, 2013;Wahab et al, 2011). Obesity impairs mental health (Hillman et al, 2010) which could affect productivity, places large burden on health system and leads to fall in productivity following absenteeism, decreased productivity of employees while at work, disability, and premature mortality (Hammond and Levine, 2010;Ricci and Chee, 2005;Fontaine et al, 2010). World Health Organization Global Comparative Estimate showed higher prevalence of overweight and obesity in women than men (Ono et al, 2012).…”

The Relationship Between Body Composition and Physical Activity, Balance and Supporting Factors in University Students

“…[45][46][47] Genç erişkinlerde yapılan çalışmalarda, anksiyete ve depresyon semptomlarının BKİ ile pozitif yönde ilişkili olduğu görülmüştür. 45,46 Ancak, Hillman ve ark.nın çalışmasında, adolesan döne-mindeki kızlarda BKİ'nin bu semptomlar üzerinde etkisi olmadığı belirtilmiştir.…”

“…45,46 Ancak, Hillman ve ark.nın çalışmasında, adolesan döne-mindeki kızlarda BKİ'nin bu semptomlar üzerinde etkisi olmadığı belirtilmiştir. 47 Çalışmalarda destekleyici faktörlere BKİ'nin etkisi araştırılsa da Morrison ve ark., vücut yağ oranının depresyon semptomları için en tutarlı ön gösterge olduğunu rapor etmişlerdir. 48 BKİ, toplam yağdaki minimal artışı göstermediği için vücut yağ oranı, adipozitenin daha objektif ve fizyolojik bir ölçümüdür.…”