Psychiatry Investig.  2018 Mar;15(3):272-278. 10.30773/pi.2017.06.28.

Association of Body Mass Index with Suicide Behaviors, Perceived Stress, and Life Dissatisfaction in the Korean General Population

• Kim H
• Jeon HJ
• Bae JN
• Cho MJ
• Cho SJ
• Lee H
• Hong JP

• KMID: 2429155
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.30773/pi.2017.06.28

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between Body Mass Index, suicide, perceived stress, and life dissatisfaction in a general population sample of Korean adults.
METHODS
A total of 6,022 nationally representative adults aged 18 to 74 were selected using a multistage cross-sectional cluster sampling method. Questionnaires regarding suicide behaviors, perceived stress, and life satisfaction were completed by the participants. They also reported their heights and weights, which were used to calculate BMI. Psychiatric disorders were diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, using the Korean version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview.
RESULTS
The results showed that being underweight was associated with higher risk for suicide ideation [odds ratio (OR), 1.6; 95% confidence interval (Cl), 1.18-2.05] and suicide attempt (OR, 2.0, 95% Cl, 1.23-3.31). Likewise, obesity also increased the risk of suicide ideation (OR, 1.3; 95% Cl, 1.11-1.56) although not suicide attempt. Furthermore, underweight individuals were more likely to report severe level of perceived stress (OR, 1.7; 95% Cl, 1.26-2.17) and life dissatisfaction (OR, 1.3; 95% Cl, 1.07-1.68). All of the results remained significant after adjusting for age, gender, education, and psychiatric illnesses.
CONCLUSION
This study found that being underweight is a significant risk factor for suicide and poor subjective wellbeing in Korea. It suggests that BMI status may be an important modifiable factor for improving mental health in Korea.

Keyword

Suicide; Body mass index; Perceived stress; Life dissatisfaction

MeSH Terms

Adult
Body Mass Index*
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Education
Humans
Korea
Mental Health
Methods
Obesity
Risk Factors
Suicide*
Thinness
Weights and Measures