title: Gender differences in the association between adiposity and probable major depression: a cross-sectional study of 140,564 UK Biobank participants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies on the association between adiposity and mood disorder have produced contradictory results, and few have used measurements other than body mass index (BMI). We examined the association between probable major depression and several measurements of adiposity: BMI, waist circumference (WC), waist-hip-ratio (WHR), and body fat percentage (BF%).
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study using baseline data on the sub-group of UK Biobank participants who were assessed for mood disorder. Multivariate logistic regression models were used, adjusting for potential confounders including: demographic and life-style factors, comorbidity and psychotropic medication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 140,564 eligible participants, evidence of probable major depression was reported by 30,145 (21.5%). The fully adjusted odds ratios (OR) for obese participants were 1.16 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12, 1.20) using BMI, 1.15 (95% CI 1.11, 1.19) using WC, 1.09 (95% CI 1.05, 1.13) using WHR and 1.18 (95% CI 1.12, 1.25) using BF% (all p < 0.001). There was a significant interaction between adiposity and gender (p = 0.001). Overweight women were at increased risk of depression with a dose response relationship across the overweight (25.0-29.9 kg/m2), obese I (30.0-34.9 kg/m2), II (35.0-39.9 kg/m2) and III (≥40.0 kg/m2) categories; fully adjusted ORs 1.14, 1.20, 1.29 and 1.48, respectively (all p < 0.001). In contrast, only obese III men had significantly increased risk of depression (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.08, 1.54, p = 0.006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adiposity was associated with probable major depression, irrespective of the measurement used. The association was stronger in women than men. Physicians managing overweight and obese women should be alert to this increased risk.
authors.forename: Zia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ul-Haq
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Barbara I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Nicholl
authors.forename: Breda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cullen
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Jason M R
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Beverly
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Ian J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Deary
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gallacher
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hotopf
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Craddock
authors.forename: Daniel F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Mackay
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health & Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, 1 Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow G12 8RZ, UK. jill.pell@glasgow.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jill P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Pell
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D018070:Biological Specimen Banks; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D055105:Waist Circumference; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio