Course of depressive symptoms in overweight youth participating in a lifestyle intervention: associations with weight reduction.
OBJECTIVE
The study investigates whether preintervention depressive symptoms predict weight loss and whether an increase in depressive symptoms during a group-based lifestyle intervention of 1 year's duration is associated with failure in weight reduction while controlling for the influence of psychosocial risks.


METHODS
Participants were 136 overweight and obese children and adolescents between 7 and 15 years, who had been referred for weight reduction treatment by local pediatric practices. Depressive symptoms in the child/adolescent were screened by a German version of the Children's Depression Inventory, in accordance with DSM-IV criteria, at baseline and conclusion of the program. Family adversity was assessed using the Psychosocial Risk Index at baseline. Preintervention maternal depression was assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale.


RESULTS
Preintervention depressive symptoms in the child/adolescent did not predict reduction in body mass index-standard deviation score. High number of psychosocial risks predicted an increase in depressive symptoms. Independently of this association, failure to reduce weight within the 1-year duration of the program was significantly associated with an increase in depressive symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
It is necessary to identify cases at risk to offer further and more specific support.
Pott
Wilfried
W
Red Cross Children's Hospital Siegen, Siegen, Germany.
Albayrak
Ozgür
O
Hebebrand
Johannes
J
Pauli-Pott
Ursula
U
D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D017211:Treatment Failure; D015431:Weight Loss