Prevalence of mental disorders in normal-weight and obese individuals with and without weight loss treatment in a German urban population.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence rates of mental disorders in normal-weight individuals and obese individuals with and without weight loss treatment.


METHODS
A sample of 251 participants in a conventional weight loss treatment, 153 pre-bariatric surgery patients, 174 normal-weight control participants, and 128 obese control participants not actively losing weight at the time of the investigation were examined.


RESULTS
Lifetime prevalence rates of mental disorders in obese women ranged from 46.7% to 60.1% compared with 41.7% in normal-weight women and from 48.0% to 54.4% in obese men compared with 29.8% in normal-weight men. Prevalence rates of mental disorders did not differ significantly between normal-weight and obese women not currently in weight loss treatment; however, the rates were significantly lower compared with both obese treatment groups. Compared with normal-weight men, obese men not currently in weight loss treatment and obese men participating in conventional weight loss treatment showed significantly higher prevalence rates of mental disorders.


CONCLUSIONS
Unlike obese male individuals, obese female participants not currently in weight loss treatment did not differ from normal-weight participants with regard to comorbidity of mental disorders. However, obese female participants who were engaged in weight loss treatment exhibited significantly higher prevalence rates than normal-weight participants.
Herpertz
Stephan
S
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Westfälische Klinik Dortmund, Ruhr University Bochum, Dortmund, Germany. stephan.herpertz@ruhr-uni-bochum.de
Burgmer
Ramona
R
Stang
Andreas
A
de Zwaan
Martina
M
Wolf
Anna Maria
AM
Chen-Stute
Annette
A
Hulisz
Thomas
T
Jöckel
Karl Heinz
KH
Senf
Wolfgang
W
D000328:Adult; D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000523:psychology*; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D001835:Body Weight; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005526:Food, Formulated; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015431:Weight Loss