Is the Relationship between Common Mental Disorder and Adiposity Bidirectional? Prospective Analyses of a UK General Population-Based Study

Abstract

The direction of the association between mental health and adiposity is poorly understood. Our objective was to empirically examine this link in a UK study. This is a prospective cohort study of 3 388 people (men) aged ≥ 18 years at study induction who participated in both the UK Health and Lifestyle Survey at baseline (HALS-1, 1984/1985) and the re-survey (HALS-2, 1991/1992). At both survey examinations, body mass index, waist circumference and self-reported common mental disorder (the 30-item General Health Questionnaire, GHQ) were measured. Logistic regression models were used to compute odds ratios (OR) and accompanying 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the associations between (1) baseline common mental disorder (QHQ score > 4) and subsequent general and abdominal obesity and (2) baseline general and abdominal obesity and re-survey common mental disorders. After controlling for a range of covariates, participants with common mental disorder at baseline experienced greater odds of subsequently becoming overweight (women, OR: 1.30, 1.03 – 1.64; men, 1.05, 0.81 – 1.38) and obese (women, 1.26, 0.82 – 1.94; men, OR: 2.10, 1.23 – 3.55) than those who were free of common mental disorder. Similarly, having baseline common mental health disorder was also related to a greater risk of developing moderate (1.57, 1.21 – 2.04) and severe (1.48, 1.09 – 2.01) abdominal obesity (women only). Baseline general or abdominal obesity was not associated with the risk of future common mental disorder. These findings of the present study suggest that the direction of association between common mental disorders and adiposity is from common mental disorder to increased future risk of adiposity as opposed to the converse.

Investigating spousal concordance of diabetes through statistical analysis and data mining

“…The geographical disparities in concordant diabetes warrant further research and require the attention of health policy-makers. The findings regarding comorbidities are similar to those previously reported [ 47 , 48 ] and indicate that medical conditions of individual spouses contribute to concordant diabetes in couples.…”

The Association between Dietary Quality and Dietary Guideline Adherence with Mental Health Outcomes in Adults: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

“…No associations between any dietary measure and either depressive symptoms or anxiety were noted among the obese individuals. Although it has been suggested that the inter-relationship between obesity and adverse mental health is bidirectional [43,45], the evidence base is inconsistent [46,47,48,49]. Moreover Jacka et al, recently examined whether reverse causality can explain the relationship between diet and mental health [50].…”

Risk factors of hospitalization for any medical condition among patients with prior emergency department visits for mental health conditions

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