The relationship between body size and depression symptoms in adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship between body size and depressive symptoms, as well as the moderating effects of age, sex, and socioeconomic status (SES), in a sample of young adolescents.


METHODS
The study group comprised 678 young adolescents (age 11 to 14 years). Body mass index (BMI) z scores were used to estimate body size. Depression symptoms were assessed using the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI). The spline function was used to examine the shape of the relationship between BMI z score and depressive symptoms.


RESULTS
In the total sample, CDI scores were lowest for BMI z scores between -1 and -0.5. CDI scores increased progressively for BMI z scores > 0. In boys, CDI scores increased for BMI z scores > 2, whereas in girls, CDI scores increased for BMI z scores > -0.5 and < -1. Age did not have a significant moderating effect. SES had a moderating effect only in boys (P = .011).


CONCLUSIONS
The relationship between body size and depressive symptoms in young adolescents is curvilinear and is moderated by sex. Heavier-than-average and underweight girls, as well as obese boys, had the highest depression scores.
Cortese
Samuele
S
Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, G. B. Rossi Hospital, Verona, Italy. samuele.cortese@gmail.com
Falissard
Bruno
B
Angriman
Marco
M
Pigaiani
Yolande
Y
Banzato
Claudia
C
Bogoni
Giovanna
G
Pellegrino
Maristella
M
Cook
Solange
S
Pajno-Ferrara
Franco
F
Bernardina
Bernardo Dalla
BD
Mouren
Marie-Christine
MC
Maffeis
Claudio
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D013851:Thinness / Q000503:physiopathology