title: Depressive symptoms and self-reported fast-food intake in midlife women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the association between depressive symptoms and fast-food intake in midlife women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were analyzed from a cross-sectional study of 626 women aged 45-54 years conducted from 2000 to 2004 in Baltimore, Maryland. The presence of depressive symptoms was measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale and defined as a score of 16 or greater. The frequency of fast-food intake was assessed using self-reported questionnaire data, and was categorized as "at least weekly", "at least monthly, but less than weekly" and "less than monthly".
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately 25% of the study sample reported depressive symptoms; 14% consumed fast-food "at least weekly," and 27% "at least monthly, but less than weekly". Compared to their counterparts, women with depressive symptoms had significantly greater odds of reporting higher fast-food intake (confounder-adjusted odds ratio: 1.54; 95% confidence interval: 1.06-2.25). Other covariates associated with a higher frequency of fast-food intake included black race and body mass index ≥30 kg/m(2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings from this study indicate that the presence of depressive symptoms is positively associated with fast-food intake in midlife women. These results may have important health implications given that both depression and dietary consumption patterns are risk factors for a number of diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Geoffrey B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: Anuprita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khedkar
authors.forename: Jodi A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Flaws
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Sorkin
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gallicchio
mesh_terms: D015142:Baltimore; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression; D057140:Fast Foods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged