BACKGROUND: The evidence is conflicting as to whether body mass index (BMI) is associated with mental health and, if so, to what extent it varies by sex and age. We studied mental health across the full spectrum of BMI among the general population, and conducted subgroup analyses by sex and age. METHOD: We undertook a cross-sectional study of a representative sample of the Scottish adult population. The Scottish Health Survey provided data on mental health, measured by the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ), BMI, demographic and life-style information. Good mental health was defined as a GHQ score <4, and poor mental health as a GHQ score ⩾4. Logistic regression models were applied. RESULTS: Of the 37 272 participants, 5739 (15.4%) had poor mental health. Overall, overweight participants had better mental health than the normal-weight group [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.87-0.99, p = 0.049], and individuals who were underweight, class II or class III obese had poorer mental health (class III obese group: adjusted OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.05-1.51, p = 0.013). There were significant interactions of BMI with sex (p = 0.013) and with age (p < 0.001). Being overweight was associated with significantly better mental health in middle-aged men only. In contrast, being underweight at all ages or obese at a young age was associated with significantly poorer mental health in women only. CONCLUSIONS: The adverse associations between adiposity and mental health are specific to women. Underweight women and young women who are obese have poorer mental health. In contrast, middle-aged overweight men have better mental health.
BACKGROUND: The evidence is conflicting as to whether body mass index (BMI) is associated with mental health and, if so, to what extent it varies by sex and age. We studied mental health across the full spectrum of BMI among the general population, and conducted subgroup analyses by sex and age. METHOD: We undertook a cross-sectional study of a representative sample of the Scottish adult population. The Scottish Health Survey provided data on mental health, measured by the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ), BMI, demographic and life-style information. Good mental health was defined as a GHQ score <4, and poor mental health as a GHQ score ⩾4. Logistic regression models were applied. RESULTS: Of the 37 272 participants, 5739 (15.4%) had poor mental health. Overall, overweight participants had better mental health than the normal-weight group [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.87-0.99, p = 0.049], and individuals who were underweight, class II or class III obese had poorer mental health (class III obese group: adjusted OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.05-1.51, p = 0.013). There were significant interactions of BMI with sex (p = 0.013) and with age (p < 0.001). Being overweight was associated with significantly better mental health in middle-aged men only. In contrast, being underweight at all ages or obese at a young age was associated with significantly poorer mental health in women only. CONCLUSIONS: The adverse associations between adiposity and mental health are specific to women. Underweight women and young women who are obese have poorer mental health. In contrast, middle-aged overweight men have better mental health.
Authors: T-K Clarke; L S Hall; A M Fernandez-Pujals; D J MacIntyre; P Thomson; C Hayward; B H Smith; S Padmanabhan; L J Hocking; I J Deary; D J Porteous; A M McIntosh Journal: Transl Psychiatry Date: 2015-06-30 Impact factor: 6.222
Authors: Markus Dines Knudsen; Paula Berstad; Anette Hjartåker; Elisabeth Haagensen Gulichsen; Geir Hoff; Thomas de Lange; Tomm Bernklev; Edoardo Botteri Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2017-07-13 Impact factor: 7.640
Authors: Zia Ul-Haq; Daniel J Smith; Barbara I Nicholl; Breda Cullen; Daniel Martin; Jason M R Gill; Jonathan Evans; Beverly Roberts; Ian J Deary; John Gallacher; Matthew Hotopf; Nick Craddock; Daniel F Mackay; Jill P Pell Journal: BMC Psychiatry Date: 2014-05-26 Impact factor: 3.630