Trends in the Relationship Between Suicide Behaviors and Obesity Among Adolescents in the United States from 1999-2019

Abstract

Abstract Background Previous studies indicate obesity is a risk factor of suicide behaviors among adolescents. Whether this association has remained consistent during the ongoing obesity epidemic remains unknown. Method The time trends of the obesity-suicide association were examined using the 1999–2019 biannual Youth Risk Behavior Survey data (n = 161,606). Prevalence odds ratio of suicide behaviors among obese adolescents (vs. non-obese) for each survey year and time trends using National Cancer Institute joinpoint regression analysis were calculated. Results For each year post-baseline, there was a significant increase of prevalence odds ratio of 1.4 (1.2–1.6)-1.6(1.3-2.0) for ideation, 1.3(1.1–1.7)-1.7(1.4-2.0) for plan, and 1.3(1.0-1.7)-1.9(1.5–2.4) for an attempt, except for the 2013 survey for the attempt (1.19 [0.9–1.6]). Significant positive trends were found during 1999–2019 for ideation and plan, with biannual %-changes of + 0.92% and + 1.22%, respectively. Conclusion Obese adolescents have consistently higher odds of engaging in suicide behaviors than their non-obese peers since the beginning of the national obesity epidemic, and that this association grew stronger as the obesity epidemic continued