The role of body mass index or metabolic syndrome components causing depression in women: An observation from weight reduction clinical trial

What is known and objective: Depression is most important psychological problem that is much prevalent in women than men. Obesity and depression are the leading causes of both physical and mental disability and the link between these disorders had not explored well. The present study evaluated the link between the depression, Body mass index (BMI) and the components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in subjects
with, without insulin resistance.
Methods: A total of 150 subjects, vital and biochemical parameters were measured for eligible screened subjects in the trial of weight loss intervention at first visit. A self-reported Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scale was used to assess the depression among the participants. The association of BMI and MetS components with risk of depression was analysed using multiple logistic regression analysis in subjects with and without insulin resistance.
Results: Obesity was associated with highly significant increase in risk of depression (OR = 13.01, 95% CI 4.40–38.49) as compared to overweight subjects. Female subjects with obesity had a greater risk for depression (β: 3.725, OR: 42.62, 95% CI: 5.74–316.3 and p < 0.0001) than male subjects (β: 1.922, OR: 6.83, 95% CI: 1.8–26 and p = 0.005), and it was statistically significant. There was no association between other models (IR and MetS) and depression in both genders (p < 0.05).
What is new and conclusion: The odds of depression was 42.62 times more in obese women and 6.83 time more in obese men compared to overweight subjects. Subjects those who are having ≥3 metabolic syndrome (MetS) components, increased the risk of depression by 0.75 times in women and 1.50 times in men. In view of these results of our study, we conclude that the body mass index is an individual strong predictor of depression whereas metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance had no significant association with depression.