M Chaiton1, C Sabiston, J O'Loughlin, J J McGrath, K Maximova, M Lambert. 1. Department of Public Health Sciences, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. michael.chaiton@utoronto.ca
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Psychosocial factors, including pressure to be thin and body dissatisfaction, have been hypothesized to mediate the relationship between obesity and depression, especially during adolescence when vulnerability to social pressures around body shape and image is heightened. The objective was to test a model of the relationships among adiposity, psychosocial factors and depression in adolescents. METHOD: In a population-based sample of 1127 boys and 1167 girls aged 13 and 16 years, a model of the relationships between adiposity, pressure to be thin, body dissatisfaction and depressive symptoms was tested using structural equation modeling. RESULTS: Among girls, adiposity accounted for 62% of the total effect of depressive symptoms through its association with pressure to be thin and body dissatisfaction. Pressure to be thin was also uniquely related to depressive symptoms. Among boys, only body dissatisfaction was associated with depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: Results support a relationship between adiposity, body satisfaction, pressure to be thin and depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms should be assessed in obese adolescents, and interventions to prevent and treat obesity should incorporate elements targeting body dissatisfaction.
OBJECTIVE:Psychosocial factors, including pressure to be thin and body dissatisfaction, have been hypothesized to mediate the relationship between obesity and depression, especially during adolescence when vulnerability to social pressures around body shape and image is heightened. The objective was to test a model of the relationships among adiposity, psychosocial factors and depression in adolescents. METHOD: In a population-based sample of 1127 boys and 1167 girls aged 13 and 16 years, a model of the relationships between adiposity, pressure to be thin, body dissatisfaction and depressive symptoms was tested using structural equation modeling. RESULTS: Among girls, adiposity accounted for 62% of the total effect of depressive symptoms through its association with pressure to be thin and body dissatisfaction. Pressure to be thin was also uniquely related to depressive symptoms. Among boys, only body dissatisfaction was associated with depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: Results support a relationship between adiposity, body satisfaction, pressure to be thin and depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms should be assessed in obese adolescents, and interventions to prevent and treat obesity should incorporate elements targeting body dissatisfaction.
Authors: Laura P Richardson; Robert Davis; Richie Poulton; Elizabeth McCauley; Terrie E Moffitt; Avshalom Caspi; Frederick Connell Journal: Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med Date: 2003-08
Authors: Jonathan Mond; Patricia van den Berg; Kerri Boutelle; Peter Hannan; Dianne Neumark-Sztainer Journal: J Adolesc Health Date: 2010-09-25 Impact factor: 5.012
Authors: May A Beydoun; Marie T Fanelli-Kuczmarski; Danielle Shaked; Greg A Dore; Hind A Beydoun; Ola S Rostant; Michele K Evans; Alan B Zonderman Journal: J Nutr Date: 2016-05-04 Impact factor: 4.798