The European Journal of Public Health Advance Access originally published online on September 13, 2006
The European Journal of Public Health 2007 17(3):297-305; doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckl227
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Obesity |
Obesity and the risk for mental disorders in a representative German adult sample
Isabel Hach1, Uwe E. Ruhl2, Michael Klose2, Jens Klotsche2, Wilhelm Kirch1 and Frank Jacobi2
1 Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, Technical University of Dresden Germany
2 Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technical University of Dresden Germany
Correspondence: Dr Isabel Hach, MPH, Forschungsnetz Ambulante Versorgung, Studienzentrum der LMU München, Innere Laufer Gasse 18, D-90403 Nürnberg, Germany, tel.: +49 911 5301809, fax: +49 911 5985679, e-mail: isabel.hach{at}med.uni-muenchen.de
Received August 25, 2005 , accepted July 10, 2006
Background: A systematic approach to examining associations among obesity and socio-demographic determinants, psychological problems, and mental disorders in epidemiological samples is missing.
Methods: Within the representative German Health Interview and Examination Survey and its Mental Health Supplement (GHS-MHS), 4181 subjects (age 18–65 years) took part in a physical examination (including measurement of body weight and height) and a standardized psychological interview (M-CIDI). Obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m2), somatic diseases, socio-economic variables, health-related quality of life (SF-36), and mental disorders (DSM-IV) were assessed. Data were analysed by logistic regression analyses.
Results: Prevalence of obesity was 18.5%. There was a strong association between obesity and somatic conditions, as well as to low socio-economic status (SES). No psychosocial disadvantages (e.g. regarding social relationships, impairment due to mental health problems, depressed feelings) for the obese individuals were found. With the exception of a higher prevalence of anxiety disorders in obese men (12.5 versus 8.5%, OR = 1.53, CI = 1.06–2.21, disappearing when controlled for number of somatic conditions), obese persons showed no elevated rates of mental disorders.
Discussion: Obesity is associated with a low SES and some somatic disadvantages but not with other social or emotional disadvantages that have been often assumed to be very prevalent in that group. From the population-based perspective, obesity per se seems not to be associated with a higher risk for suffering from mental disorders, whereas relations between specific aspects of obesity and specific types of psychopathology still need further study.
Keywords: mental disorders, obesity, psychosocial disadvantages