The association between overall and abdominal adiposity and depressive mood: A cross-sectional analysis in 6459 participants

Objective We aimed to evaluate the association between measures of adiposity with depressive mood and specific depressive symptoms. Methods This study was performed in the Netherlands Epidemiology of Obesity (NEO) study, a population-based study that consists of 6671 middle-aged individuals. We examined the association between measures of overall adiposity (BMI and total body fat), and abdominal adiposity (waist circumference and visceral adipose tissue), with depressive mood severity subgroups and 30 depressive symptoms. Multinomial logistic regression was performed adjusting for potential confounding. Results Measures of adiposity were associated with depressive mood in a graded fashion. Total body fat showed the strongest association with mild (Odds Ratio (OR): 1.59 per standard deviation, 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI): 1.41–1.80) and moderate to very severe (OR: 1.97, 95% CI: 1.59–2.44) depressive mood. Regarding individual symptoms of depressive mood, total body fat was associated with most depressive symptoms (strongest associations for hyperphagia and fatigability). Conclusions In the general population, overall and abdominal adiposity measures were associated with depressive mood. This association encompasses most of the depressive symptoms and appeared to be the strongest with specific ‘’atypical’’ neurovegetative symptoms, which may be an indication of an alteration in the energy homeostasis.