title: Body mass index, waist circumference and waist-hip ratio are associated with depressive symptoms in older Chinese women: results from the Rugao Longevity and Ageing Study (RuLAS).
abstract: The objective was to determine whether obesity is associated with depressive symptoms among older Chinese.
  
  
  
  Data from the cross-sectional Rugao Longevity and Ageing Study were used including anthropometric measurements (body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-hip ratio (WHR)), socio-demographic characteristics, living habits, physical health and cognitive impairment. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the association between obesity and depressive symptoms.
  
  
  
  Among 1732 elderly Chinese aged 70-84 years, the prevalence of depressive symptoms was 6.7% (5.0%-8.5%) in men and 12.5% (10.4%-14.6%) in women. A negative linear trend was found between depressive symptoms and BMI in women (Pfor trend< 0.05). Women with BMI ≥ 28.0 kg/m2had lower chances (OR = 0.41 (0.20-0.84), p = 0.01) to have elevated depressive symptoms compared with their normal weight counterparts. Furthermore, consistent trends were observed with lower depression prevalence rates in higher WC and WHR categories in women. However, no such associations were apparent in men.
  
  
  
  Higher BMI, WC and WHR categories were all associated with a lower risk of depressive symptoms in older women.
authors.affiliation: a Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias of the Ministry of Education of China , Tongji University School of Medicine , Shanghai , China.|b Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology , Tongji University School of Medicine , Shanghai , China.
authors.forename: Tingfan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhi
authors.affiliation: c Department of Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital , Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine , Shanghai , China.
authors.forename: Qunshan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: d Unit of Epidemiology, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and MOE Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology , School of Life Sciences and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University , Shanghai , China.
authors.forename: Zuyun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: e Rugao People's Hospital , Rugao , Jiangsu , China.
authors.forename: Yinsheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: e Rugao People's Hospital , Rugao , Jiangsu , China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: f Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, East Hospital , Tongji University School of Medicine , Shanghai , China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: e Rugao People's Hospital , Rugao , Jiangsu , China.
authors.forename: Zhengdong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: e Rugao People's Hospital , Rugao , Jiangsu , China.
authors.forename: Xuefeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: d Unit of Epidemiology, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and MOE Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology , School of Life Sciences and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University , Shanghai , China.
authors.forename: Xiaofeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: a Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias of the Ministry of Education of China , Tongji University School of Medicine , Shanghai , China.|b Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology , Tongji University School of Medicine , Shanghai , China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012923:Social Class; D055105:Waist Circumference; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
keywords: Elderly; body mass index; depressive symptoms; waist circumference; waist–hip ratio