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. 2009 Dec;40(4):517-26.
doi: 10.1007/s10578-009-0141-1. Epub 2009 Apr 29.

A longitudinal study of childhood depression and anxiety in relation to weight gain

Dana L Rofey  1 , Rachel P Kolko, Ana-Maria Iosif, Jennifer S Silk, James E Bost, Wentao Feng, Eva M Szigethy, Robert B Noll, Neal D Ryan, Ronald E Dahl
Affiliations

A longitudinal study of childhood depression and anxiety in relation to weight gain

Dana L Rofey et al. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2009 Dec.

Abstract

Adult mood disturbances are highly correlated with obesity, although little is known about the developmental relationship between mood disorders and weight. This study investigated the relationship between childhood psychopathology and weight over the course of 3 years. Body Mass Index (BMI) percentiles and demographic data of children (ages 8-18) with depression (n = 143) or anxiety (n = 43) were compared to healthy controls (n = 99). Both childhood depression (chi(2) = 4.6, p = 0.03) and anxiety (chi(2) = 6.0, p = 0.01) were associated with increased BMI percentiles. Compared to controls, BMI percentiles of depressed females over the course of the study differed profoundly (chi(2) = 7.0, p = 0.01) and BMI percentiles of anxious females approached significance (chi(2) = 3.7, p = 0.06). Males with anxiety showed a greater trend towards overweight (chi(2) = 3.3, p = 0.07) in comparison to controls. The major finding that depression and anxiety are associated with increased BMI percentiles in a non-obese sample suggests that childhood psychopathology is an important factor that should be carefully monitored.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
BMI Percentile for Depression, Anxiety, and Low-risk Participants
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
BMI Percentile for Depression, Anxiety, and Low-risk Females
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
BMI Percentile for Depression, Anxiety, and Low-risk Males
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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