Overweight and obesity: the significance of a depressed mood.
OBJECTIVE
Comorbid depression has been found to increase morbidity in a variety of disorders. This study aimed to investigate whether the presence of depressive symptoms in overweight and obese people is related to increased specific eating psychopathology and decreased self-esteem.


METHODS
Overweight/obese people seeking dietary treatment were grouped according to their scores on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), resulting in a mildly to moderately depressed group (BDI > or = 10; n = 66; the symptomatic group) and a non-depressed group (BDI < 10; n = 83). Eating psychopathology was measured by the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q); self-esteem was measured by the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale.


RESULTS
Symptomatic people had more shape, weight and eating concerns (P-values < 0.001); scored higher on restraint (P < 0.01); had lower self-esteem (P < 0.001); and had a higher BMI (P < 0.05) than non-depressed people. Furthermore, the percentage of bingers was higher in the symptomatic group (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Symptomatic participants suffered more than non-depressed participants, and not only from their depression.


CONCLUSIONS
For dieticians treating overweight and obese people, the BDI is a useful instrument for identifying the subgroup with depressive symptoms--the group that is at risk for (eating) psychopathology.
Werrij
Marieke Q
MQ
Maastricht University, Faculty of Psychology, Department of Experimental Psychology, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands. m.werrij@psychology.unimaas.nl
Mulkens
Sandra
S
Hospers
Harm J
HJ
Jansen
Anita
A
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002032:Bulimia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires