Table 2.
Longitudinal studies in patients suffering from depression and obesity
| Author (year) | Participants | Objectives | Results | Quality of the study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nigatu et al. [20] (2015) | N=1,094, follow up for an average of 2.17 years | To examine the significance of the relationship between major depression and obesity, depending on whether it is a single or recurrent episode of depression | In individuals with obesity there was no increased risk of single major depressive episode (OR=0.75, 95% CI 0.25–2.30), but there was risk of major depression with recurrent episodes (OR=11.63; 95% CI 1.05–128.60) | Low |
| Ages between 33 and 79 | There was no association found between a single depressive episode or depression with recurrent episodes and the development of obesity in the future | |||
| Laserre et al. [16] (2014) | N=3,054 (51.3% women, ages from 35 to 66) | To determine whether the subtypes of major depressive disorder (melancholic, atypical, combined and non-specific) are predictive of adiposity in terms of obesity incidence and changes in BMI | Only patients with atypical depression subtype had an increased risk of obesity with an OR of 3.75 (95% CI 1.24–11.35) | Low |
| 5.5 follow-up years | The subtype of atypical depression is a strong predictor of obesity | |||
| Angstmann et al. [25] (2013) | Retrospective N=1,111 with major depressive disorder (including dysthymia). BMI was measured. 75% of the sample were women, average age around 40 (18–92.3) | To assess whether obesity can have a negative effect over the response to multimodal treatment for depression (6 months) | Treatment results after six months were not significantly affected by patients BMI | Low |
| Roberts and Duong [11] (2013) | N=4,175 adolescents from 11 to 17 years of age. 1 follow-up year. Cohort study. DISC-IV (Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children) questionnaire. Measure of height and weight. Classification according to BMI | To examine whether obesity increases the risk of developing depression, if depression increases de risk of obesity or if there is a reciprocal effect | Initial weight did not predict major depression or depressive symptoms (non-significant OR and adjusted OR). Major depression increased the risk of future obesity by more than two [OR between obesity in phase 2 and major depression in phase 1 was 2.87 (95% CI 1.34–6.18)] | Low |
| Young people who are obese are not more likely to be depressed than non-obese people. However, depressed youth are more likely to become obese | ||||
| Godin et al. [14] (2012) | N=3,090 people over 65 years of age (without depression). 10 years of cohort follow-up. 1,744 people complete de study. 478 cases of depression. The diagnosis of depression was made with MINI (International Psychiatric Structural Interview) or also if the patient was still taking anti-depressive treatment | To investigate the association of BMI and the risk of developing depression in an older population (this study also took blood pressure into account) | Obese subjects (BMI larger than 30) had an increased risk of developing depression when compared to subjects with a normal BMI (RR=1.60 95% CI 1.03–2.51) | Low |
| BMI is prospectively associated with the risk of depression | ||||
| Pickering et al. [22] (2011) | N=34,653 adults from the USA. Ages 18 and over. | The aim was to determine the incidence in mood disorders, anxiety and substance abuse (DSM IV) and the changes in BMI during the follow-up period | Women who are overweighed, have a higher risk of depression than those with normal weight OR=1.3 CI 95% (1.02–1.56); obese women, also had a higher risk of depression than those with a normal weight OR=1.2 CI 95% (1.02–1.51) | Low |
| 3 years follow up | ||||
| Rating of depression with AUDADIS-IV (Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule) and obesity with BMI |
OR: odds ratio, CI: confidence interval, BMI: body mass index, RR: relative risk