The Relationship between Body Size and Depression Symptoms in Adolescents

Objective To evaluate the relationship between body size and depressive symptoms, as well as the moderating effects of age, sex, and socioeconomic status (SES), in a sample of young adolescents. Study design The study group comprised 678 young adolescents (age 11 to 14 years). Body mass index (BMI)...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of pediatrics 2009, Vol.154 (1), p.86-90
Main Authors: Cortese, Samuele, MD, Falissard, Bruno, MD, PhD, Angriman, Marco, MD, Pigaiani, Yolande, PhD, Banzato, Claudia, MD, Bogoni, Giovanna, MD, Pellegrino, Maristella, MD, Cook, Solange, PhD, Pajno-Ferrara, Franco, MD, Bernardina, Bernardo Dalla, MD, Mouren, Marie-Christine, MD, Maffeis, Claudio, MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Age Factors
Biological and medical sciences
Body Mass Index
Child
Depression
Depression - epidemiology
Depression - physiopathology
Female
General aspects
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Miscellaneous
Mood disorders
Pediatrics
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Sex Factors
Social Class
Thinness - physiopathology
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Summary:Objective To evaluate the relationship between body size and depressive symptoms, as well as the moderating effects of age, sex, and socioeconomic status (SES), in a sample of young adolescents. Study design The study group comprised 678 young adolescents (age 11 to 14 years). Body mass index (BMI) z scores were used to estimate body size. Depression symptoms were assessed using the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI). The spline function was used to examine the shape of the relationship between BMI z score and depressive symptoms. Results In the total sample, CDI scores were lowest for BMI z scores between −1 and −0.5. CDI scores increased progressively for BMI z scores > 0. In boys, CDI scores increased for BMI z scores > 2, whereas in girls, CDI scores increased for BMI z scores > −0.5 and < −1. Age did not have a significant moderating effect. SES had a moderating effect only in boys ( P = .011). Conclusions The relationship between body size and depressive symptoms in young adolescents is curvilinear and is moderated by sex. Heavier-than-average and underweight girls, as well as obese boys, had the highest depression scores.
ISSN:0022-3476
1097-6833
DOI:10.1016/j.jpeds.2008.07.040