Abstract
Purpose
Obesity impacts mental health greatly. Psychological factors may influence the effectiveness of its treatment. This study aimed to compare symptoms of generalised anxiety disorder and depression among adult women across different weight categories. We examined the associations between PHQ-9 and GAD-7 questionnaire scores, the use of anti-obesity medications, and former bariatric surgery. We hypothesised that higher BMI would correlate with higher questionnaires’ scores, and that anti-obesity medication usage and bariatric surgery status would impact them.
Methods
The sample consisted of 1,105 adult women. The Computer-Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) utilising the 7-item Generalised Anxiety Disorders Scale (GAD-7) and the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used.
Results
Both GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores correlated positively with BMI (r = 0.121, p < 0.001 and r = 0.173, p < 0.001, respectively), and negatively with age (r=-0.106, p < 0.001 and r=-0.103, p < 0.001, respectively). Patients undergoing treatment with semaglutide scored lower for both anxiety symptoms (8.71 ± 6.16, p = 0.013) and depression symptoms (9.76 ± 6.37, p = 0.013). Women who underwent bariatric surgery screened less frequently for anxiety (8.03 ± 6.27, p = 0.002) but not for depression.
Conclusion
An interdisciplinary approach involving mental health professionals within the therapeutic team can comprehensively address factors contributing to obesity development and treatment outcomes. More investigation of semaglutide's use is needed, due to the promising evidence suggesting a positive effect on decreasing the severity of depression and anxiety symptoms, to assess the direct or indirect character of this influence. The link between bariatric surgery and mental health status requires more research.