Relationship between obesity and depression, anxiety and psychological distress among Iranian health-care staff

Abstract

Background: Psychological-related disorders such as obesity are a key contributor to morbidity and mortality. Aims: To assess the association between general and abdominal obesity with depression and anxiety among Iranian health-care staff. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted under the framework of the Study on the Epidemiology of Psychological Alimentary Health and Nutrition. A total of 4361 Iranian health-care staff were analysed for general obesity and 3213 for central obesity. Overweight and obesity was defined as body mass index 25.0–29.9 and ≥ 30.0 kg/m2, respectively. Abdominal obesity was defined as waist circumference (WC) ≥ 88 cm for females and ≥ 102 cm for males. The Iranian validated versions of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the General Health Questionnaire were used to assess depression and anxiety. Results: Stratified analysis by sex revealed no significant relationship between general obesity, depression and anxiety among males. However, we found an inverse association between abdominal obesity (WC > 102 cm) and severe depression among males. In females, abdominal obesity was significantly associated with anxiety, before and after taking confounders into account. No significant association was seen between abdominal obesity and psychological distress in either sex after controlling for potential confounders. Conclusions: Abdominal obesity was associated with anxiety in Iranian adult females but not in males. Further studies, particularly prospective research, are required to confirm these findings.