Author(s)

Marja Koski^1*, Hannu Naukkarinen^2,3

¹Department of Psychiatry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
²University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
³Carea Hospital District, Kymenlaakso Psychiatric Hospital, Kuusankoski, Finland.

Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between depression and obesity in severely obese retired individuals using the case-control method. Methods: The subject group consisted of 112 individuals receiving a permanent disability pension primarily due to obesity. The prevalence of depression was measured with a personal psychiatric interview and the Beck Depression Inventory (21). Male and female controls were selected separately, with five controls for male subjects and three controls for female subjects. The controls were matched with the subjects according to place of residence, age, time that pension was granted, and occupation. The statistical analyses included χ² tests, means, t-tests for paired variables, a conditional logistic linear model, correlation coefficients and the percent distributions. Results: Depression was diagnosed more often in the subject group than in the control group according to the psychiatric interview. Based on the conditional logistic linear model, individuals with severe obesity had a higher risk of depression than those in the control group. The most common disturbance was chronic depression in both groups. Additionally, there were significant findings regarding the outcome of depression for every classification in the psychiatric interview. According to the Beck Depression Inventory, depression was more common in subjects than in controls. However, slight depression was most common in the study group. Seven percent of the subjects had masked depression. The questions on the Beck Depression Inventory that measure irritability, indecisiveness, body image and ability to work were nearly significant. Regarding weight changes, the Beck Depression Inventory questions on both weight loss (p = 0.014) and weight gain (p = 0.017) were statistically significant. In the study group, individuals with BMI over 40 kg/m² gained the most weight; however, weight loss was very low overall. Regarding changes in appetite, the majority of the study group responded that they had a poorer appetite than previously. Conclusion: This research is essential and provides information on groups that have not been previously examined. The findings from this study can be utilized to improve the care and understanding of individuals with severe obesity.

Severe Obesity, Depression, Beck Inventory, Body Mass Index, Weight in Depression

Koski, M. and Naukkarinen, H. (2017) The Relationship between Depression and Severe Obesity: A Case-Control Study. Open Journal of Psychiatry, 7, 276-293. doi: 10.4236/ojpsych.2017.74024.