title: Prevalence of comorbid depression and obesity in general practice: a cross-sectional survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  General practice is a common setting for the provision of weight-management advice, as well as the treatment of depression. While there is some evidence of a reciprocal relationship between obesity and depression, there are limited data about the rates of depression among general practice patients who are underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese. AIM To explore the prevalence of depression among underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese general practice patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 12 Australian general practices. METHOD Patients aged ≥18 years and older who were presenting for general practice care were eligible to participate. Consenting patients completed a touchscreen computer survey assessing self-reported weight and height. Depression was assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), with a score of ≥10 used to indicate possible depression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data were obtained from 3361 participants. The prevalence of depression was 24% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 11.86 to 39.28) among underweight participants, 11% (95% CI = 8.5 to 14.0) among normal weight participants, 12% (95% CI = 0.9 to 15.2) among overweight participants, and 23% (95% CI = 17.8 to 29.0) among obese participants. The prevalence of depression was higher for women than for men across all weight categories except underweight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weight and depression demonstrated a U-shaped relationship, with higher prevalence of depression observed among underweight and obese general practice patients. These conditions may act as red flags for opportunistic screening of depression in the general practice setting.
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, School of Medicine and Public Health;
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carey
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Small
authors.forename: Sze Lin
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Yoong
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boyes
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bisquera
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sanson-Fisher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: body weight; depression; general practice; obesity; primary care