Major Depression, Antidepressant Medication and the Risk of Obesity
Date
2009
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Karger
Abstract
Background: Cross-sectional studies have reported an association between episodes of major depression (MDE) and obesity. The objective of this longitudinal analysis was to determine whether MDE increases the risk of becoming obese over a 10 year period. Method: We used data from the Canadian National Population Health Survey (NPHS), a longitudinal study of a representative cohort of household residents in Canada. The incidence of obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of ≥ 30 kg/m2 was evaluated in respondents who were 18 years or older at the time of a baseline interview in 1994. MDE was assessed using a brief diagnostic instrument. Results: The risk of obesity was not elevated in association with MDE, either in unadjusted or covariate-adjusted analyses. The strongest predictor of obesity was a BMI in the overweight (but not obese) range. Effects were also seen for (younger) age, (female) sex, a sedentary activity pattern, low income and exposure to antidepressant medications. Unexpectedly, significant effects were seen for serotonin reuptake inhibiting antidepressants and venlafaxine, but not for tricyclic antidepressants nor antipsychotic medications. Conclusions: MDE does not appear to increase the risk of obesity. The cross-sectional associations that have been reported, albeit inconsistently, in the literature probably represent an effect of obesity on MDE risk. Pharmacologic treatment with antidepressants may be associated with an increased risk of obesity, and strategies to offset this risk may be useful in clinical practice.
Description
This late revision is archived here in order to comply with the requirements of the funding agency.
Keywords
Health Sciences, Major Depressive Disorder
Citation
Patten SB, Williams J, Lavorato DH, Campbell N, Eliasziw M, Campbell T. Major Depression as a Risk Factor for High Blood Pressure: Epidemiologic Evidence from a National Longitudinal Study. Psychosomatic Medicine 2009; 71:273-279.