Relationship between depression and functional measures in overweight and obese persons with osteoarthritis of the knee.

Depression is common in overweight and obese individuals with chronic illness. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between depression and functional status. Baseline data were used from 105 overweight/obese participants who enrolled in a clinical trial for overweight and obese adults with osteoarthritis of the knee. Forty-two percent of the sample was classified as depressed according to the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. A moderate relationship was seen between perceived physical function and physical performance in patients who were not depressed that did not exist in patients reporting depressive symptoms. In a stepwise regression analysis, poorer function (as measured by the Western Ontario and MacMaster Universities (Osteoarthritis Index) function subscale) and younger age accounted for 29 percent of the variance in depressive symptoms.