Weight Status, Physical Activity, and Depression in Korean Older Adults

Abstract

BackgroundThis study aimed to explore the associations between weight status, physical activity, and depression in Korean older adults.MethodsWe used the baseline data drawn from the 2008 baseline survey utilized in the Living Profiles of Older People Survey, comprised of 15,146 community-dwelling older people (42.6% men and 57.4% women) aged 60 years and older residing in the Republic of Korea. After excluding respondents with missing data on height, weight, and physical activity (PA), data on 10,197 samples (43.3% men and 56.7% women) were analyzed in this study.ResultsUnderweight and completely inactive individuals had poorer sociodemographic and health behavioral characteristics and increased risks of late-life depression compared with normal weight and sufficiently active individuals, respectively. In terms of the aerobic PA guidelines, completely inactive individuals had a significantly higher risk of late-life depression (odds ratio 1.730; 95% confidence interval, 1.412–2.120) compared with sufficiently active individuals, even after adjustments for age, education, household income, night sleeping, living status, marital status, smoking, number of comorbidities, nutritional status, self-reported health status, and cognitive performance as covariates. In addition, those who did not meet the PA guidelines and were underweight or overweight/obese were more likely to have late-life depression compared to those who were active and normal weight.ConclusionsThe current findings of the study suggest that modifiable, lifestyle risk factors, such as physical inactivity, underweight, and overweight/obesity, are positively associated with late-life depression in Korean older adults.

Nutritional Status and Associated Factors Among the Community-Dwelling Elderly Population in Debre Berhan Town, North Shewa Zone, Ethiopia

“…Depression is also another identified risk factor for elder's malnutrition and the risk of malnutrition, in which depressed elders were 1.90 times more likely to suffer from malnutrition and risk of malnutrition than those not depressed. This finding is in line with studies done in South Africa and Norway that reveal depressed elders were more likely to be at risk or be malnourished than those not depressed 26,27 and also the same with the study done in the Netherlands that reveals depression was independently associated with an increased risk of malnutrition. 16 This may be because an individual who is depressed is more likely to be living in stressful situations and life burdened that means by one way or another the nutritional condition of the elderly is altered by depression.…”

“…Focusing mainly on socio-economic and demographic status; health care services; common diseases and behavioral characteristics; and anthropometric measurements interviews were carried out by the MNA tool that focused on screening and assessments found in the Nestle Nutrition Institute. Using the MNA score participants are grouped as malnourished (<17), at risk of malnutrition (17-23.5) or normal nutritional status (24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30) scores. 13 Anthropometric measurements were done by; height measurement, portable height meter was used, and participants measured barefoot, standing in an upright position, with their heel, buttock, shoulder, and prominent occipital against the height meter board.…”

An Exploratory Study of the Relative Effects of Various Protective Factors on Depressive Symptoms Among Older People

“…Previous research suggests that relevant modifiable factors that could be the focus of such strategies include social support, self-rated health, and physical activity (13)(14)(15)(16). There is strong evidence for the protective effects of each of these factors, individually and in various combinations, across both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies (17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26). Overall, research investigating the trajectory of depressive symptoms in older people has found higher levels of social support, self-rated health, and physical activity to be associated with (i) fewer depressive symptoms at baseline and (ii) a lower likelihood of depressive symptoms emerging over time (24,25).…”

Association between depressive symptoms and pulse wave velocity is mediated by increased adiposity in older adults with type 2 diabetes

“… 37 Late-life depression has been linked to adiposity, but conflicting findings have been reported. Studies have revealed a positive association, 38 inverse association, 39 U-shaped association 40 or no association between obesity and depressive symptoms in older adults. 41 The varied observations may be explained by heterogeneity in study populations and study design.…”