Weight and depressive symptoms in older adults: direction of influence?
OBJECTIVE
. The purpose of this study was to clarify the direction of the relationship between changes in depressive symptoms and changes in weight in older adults. Methods. The sample included a prospective cohort of individuals aged 53-63 (n = 9,130) enrolled in the Health and Retirement Study. We used separate cross-lagged models for men and women in order to study the impact of weight change on subsequent increases in depressive symptoms 2 years later and vice versa.


RESULTS
. Weight gain did not lead to increased depressive symptoms, and weight loss preceded increased depressive symptoms only in unadjusted models among men (odds ratio [OR] = 1.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.04-1.53). Increased depressive symptoms were not predictive of subsequent weight loss, but they were predictive of subsequent weight gain in unadjusted models only (men: OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.00-1.54; women: OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.00-1.26). In adjusted models, baseline depressive symptoms predicted both weight loss and weight gain among both men and women. Increase in functional limitations and medical conditions were significant predictors of both weight loss and weight gain. Baseline functional limitations also predicted increased depressive symptoms. Discussion. Based on our findings, it is apparent that researchers need to examine the pathways between changes in weight and increases in depressive symptoms in the context of functional limitations and medical comorbidity.
Forman-Hoffman
Valerie L
VL
Center for Research in the Implementation of Innovative Stategies in Practice, Iowa City Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, Iowa, USA. valeriehoffman@uiowa.edu
Yankey
Jon W
JW
Hillis
Stephen L
SL
Wallace
Robert B
RB
Wolinsky
Fredric D
FD
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014481:United States; D015430:Weight Gain; D015431:Weight Loss