Depression and body mass index are found to co-occur.  Obesity and BMI are directly related, and obesity can lead to mental health issues like anxiety and despair.  But BMI doesn't distinguish between fat and muscle, nor does it indicate how much fat in a certain part of the body can cause mental health issues. 

The distribution of body fat has an impact on our mental health, per a recent study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders and written by Wenjun Gu, Kunming Bao, Xiaoming Li, Shaohang Xiang, Junhao He, Jinning He, Lixin Ye, and Zhidong Huang.  Additionally, the study found a stronger correlation between depression and body fat in men. 

Findings of the Study
Data from 10,694 persons who participated in the National health and Nutrition Examination survey were analyzed for the study.  In order to quantify bone, muscle, and fat, the subjects had to have full-body scans performed.  Accurate measurements of body fat were obtained from the scans in eight different body parts: the legs, arms, trunk, head, gynoid (hips and thighs), android (abdominal), subtotal (head excluded), and total body. 

The participants were asked to complete a questionnaire in order to gauge their level of depression.  To better understand the association, they were also questioned about their biological markers, medical issues, lifestyle choices, and socioeconomic position. 

The outcomes were startling.  Individuals with higher body fat percentages were more likely to exhibit signs of depression.  Individuals who had higher levels of body fat in their legs, gynoid area, and abdominal region were more likely to suffer from depression.  The risk of developing depressive symptoms was moderate, even for those with a larger percentage of head body fat. 

Body Fat, Depression and Gender
The authors of the study also observed that there was a greater correlation between depression and body fat in males than in women.  This further implied that different biological sexes may experience body fat's impact on mood in various ways.
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G GOWTHAM

26/04/2025 12:02 PM