J Korean Med Sci.  2016 Nov;31(11):1814-1821. 10.3346/jkms.2016.31.11.1814.

Association of Overweight with the Prevalence of Lifetime Psychiatric Disorders and Suicidality: General Population-based Study in Korea

• Kim BS
• Chang SM
• Seong SJ
• Park JE
• Park S
• Hong JP
• Bae JN
• Cho SJ
• Hahm BJ
• Lee DW
• Park JI
• Lee JY
• Jeon HJ
• Cho MJ

• KMID: 2470280
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2016.31.11.1814

Abstract

Many epidemiological studies suggest that overweight is associated with an elevated risk of psychiatric disorders and suicidal tendency. However, findings vary across studies, and some have contradictory results. We investigated the relationship of overweight with a range of psychiatric disorders and suicidality in the Korean general population. A multistage cluster sampling design was adopted. A total of 6,022 participants aged 18-74 years completed face-to-face interviews (response rate: 78.7%) including assessment of psychiatric disorders, suicidality, and height and weight. Overweight (defined as body mass index of ≥ 25) was associated with an increase in the lifetime prevalence of depressive disorders (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-1.77), suicidal ideation (AOR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.20-1.68), and suicidal plans (AOR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.02-2.03), controlling for sociodemographic variables. Subgroup analysis found that the association between overweight and depressive disorders exists only in women aged 18-44 years (AOR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.07-2.89) while the association of overweight with suicidal ideation (AOR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.53-2.82) and suicide plans (AOR, 2.59; 95% CI, 1.25-5.37) existed only in men aged 18-44 years. Overweight was associated with increased odds of nicotine use disorders in women aged 18-44 years (AOR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.02-5.43), but the association was in the opposite direction in men aged 45-74 years (AOR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.43-0.94). In conclusion, overweight is related to various psychiatric disorders and suicidality in Korea. Policy makers and clinicians should pay more attention to the mental health of overweight individuals.

Keyword

Overweight; Obesity; Mental Disorders; Suicide; Cross-sectional Studies

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Body Mass Index
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depressive Disorder/epidemiology
Female
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Male
Mental Disorders/*epidemiology/etiology
Middle Aged
Odds Ratio
Overweight/*complications
Prevalence
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Sex Factors
*Suicidal Ideation
Tobacco Use Disorder/complications
Young Adult

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