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. 2022 Apr 25:9:843155.
doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.843155. eCollection 2022.

A Body Shape Index and Body Roundness Index in Relation to Anxiety, Depression, and Psychological Distress in Adults

Keyhan Lotfi  1 , Ammar Hassanzadeh Keshteli  2 , Parvane Saneei  3 , Hamid Afshar  4 , Ahmad Esmaillzadeh  1   5   6 , Peyman Adibi  7
Affiliations

A Body Shape Index and Body Roundness Index in Relation to Anxiety, Depression, and Psychological Distress in Adults

Keyhan Lotfi et al. Front Nutr. .

Abstract

Background: Despite the large evidence on the association between obesity and psychological disorders, studies investigating new anthropometric indices in relation to mental health are limited. We aimed to explore the association between A Body Shape Index (ABSI) and Body Roundness Index (BRI) and common psychological disorders (anxiety, depression, and psychological distress) among Iranian adults.

Methods: In this cross-sectional investigation, anthropometric measures of 3213 Iranian adults were gathered using a validated self-reported questionnaire. ABSI and BRI values of participants were calculated through pre-defined formulas. General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) validated for Iranians were used to assess psychological distress, anxiety, and depression.

Results: Mean age of participants was 36.6 ± 7.73, and 62.8% of them were women. ABSI and BRI were higher in subjects with anxiety and psychological distress. Also, depressed participants had higher BRI. After considering potential confounders, individuals in the last tertile of ABSI, compared to the first tertile, had higher odds of anxiety (OR: 1.41, 95%CI: 1.04, 1.93) and psychological distress (OR: 1.39, 95%CI: 1.09, 1.79). Also, a marginal association was found between the highest category of ABSI and depression (OR: 1.27; 95%CI: 1.00, 1.61). In the sex-stratified analysis, ABSI was positively related to odds of anxiety (OR: 1.58; 95%CI; 1.12, 2.22), depression (OR: 1.40; 95%CI; 1.07, 1.84), and psychological distress (OR: 1.51; 95%CI; 1.13, 2.01) among women, but not men. We failed to find any significant association between BRI and depression, anxiety and psychological distress.

Conclusion: We found that ABSI was associated with anxiety, depression and psychological distress among females, but not males. However, we did not find a significant relation between BRI and the outcomes. Further prospective studies are required to confirm our findings.

Keywords: A Body Shape Index; Body Roundness Index; anxiety; depression; psychological disorders; psychological distress.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The prevalence of anxiety, depression and distress in study participants across tertiles of (A) ABSI, and (B) BRI.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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