title: Measurement matters in the association between early adolescent depressive symptoms and body mass index.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this study were to examine associations between depressive symptoms and body mass over 1 year during early adolescence and to assess how the associations might differ depending upon whether self-reported or directly measured height and weight were used.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 446 sixth-grade Seattle students. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Mood and Feelings Questionnaire. Regression models were used to examine whether baseline depression status was associated with 12-month body mass index (BMI; using self-reported height and weight) and whether baseline overweight status was associated with 12-month depressive symptom score. Analyses were rerun among a subsample (n=165) who had height and weight directly measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using BMI derived from self-reported values, depressed males had a significantly lower BMI than nondepressed males, while depressed females had a significantly higher BMI than nondepressed females, after adjusting for covariates. Among a subsample using measured height and weight values, however, depression was no longer associated with BMI in either gender. Baseline overweight status did not predict 12-month depression score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Observed associations between depression and subsequent BMI were explained by differential misclassification of self-reported height and weight by depression status and gender. Direct measurement of height and weight may be necessary to ensure validity in studies of adolescent depression and weight-related outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Box 357236, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. rhew@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Isaac C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Rhew
authors.forename: Laura P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lymp
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McTiernan
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McCauley
authors.forename: Ann Vander
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Stoep
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D015982:Bias; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012737:Sex Factors; D014861:Washington
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