Patterns of Self-Reported Alcohol Use, Depressive Symptoms, and Body Mass Index in a Family Sample: The Buffering Effects of Parentification

Children of mothers with depressive symptoms are at a higher risk for psychosocial, behavioral, and developmental problems. However, the effects of maternal depression on children’s physical growth are not well understood. To address the gaps in the literature, this study examined the association between maternal depressive symptoms, breastfeeding behaviors, and child weight outcomes. Data from 204 mother–child dyads who participated in the STRONG Kids 1 Study were used. Mothers and children were assessed twice when the children were 3 and 4 years old. Height and weight measurements of children and mothers were collected by trained researchers during both assessments. Multiple linear regression and analysis of covariance tests were used to examine the associations between maternal depressive symptoms, breastfeeding, and age and sex-adjusted child body mass index percentile. Recurrent maternal depressive symptoms when the child was 3 and 4 years old were not associated with child body mass index percentiles (BMI-P) at age 4. Mothers who breastfed for at least 6 months had significantly lower depressive symptoms when their children were 3 years of age, but the differences did not persist at age 4. In this community sample, maternal depressive symptoms were not associated with child BMI-P, regardless of breastfeeding duration.

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Challenging the “jolly fat” hypothesis among older adults: High body mass index predicts increases in depressive symptoms over a 5-year period

Journal of Health Psychology ◽

10.1177/1359105316675209 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 48-58 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Peter Joseph Dearborn ◽

Michael A Robbins ◽

Merrill F Elias

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Body Mass Index ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Body Mass ◽

Functional Limitations ◽

High Body Mass Index ◽

Obesity Prevalence ◽

Community Based ◽

Objectively Measured

Several investigators have observed lowered risk of depression among obese older adults, coining the “jolly fat” hypothesis. We examined this hypothesis using baseline and a 5-year follow-up body mass index, depressive symptoms, and covariates from 638 community-based older adults. High objectively measured body mass index and functional limitations predicted increased future depressive symptoms. However, symptoms did not predict future body mass index. Self-reported body mass index showed similar associations despite underestimating obesity prevalence. Results did not differ on the basis of gender. Results for this study, the first longitudinal reciprocal risk analysis between objectively measured body mass index and depressive symptoms among older adults, do not support the “jolly fat” hypothesis.

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Correlation of shift work and waist circumference, body mass index, chronotype and depressive symptoms

Arquivos Brasileiros de Endocrinologia & Metabologia ◽

10.1590/s0004-27302010000700010 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 54 (7) ◽

pp. 652-656 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Luciana da Conceição Antunes ◽

Manoela Neves da Jornada ◽

Letícia Ramalho ◽

Maria Paz Loayza Hidalgo

Keyword(s):

Body Mass Index ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Waist Circumference ◽

Body Mass ◽

Shift Work ◽

Self Report ◽

Metabolic Disturbances ◽

Anthropometric Measures ◽

Shift Workers ◽

Health Area

OBJECTIVE: Correlate shift work with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, chronotype and depressive symptoms. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This study comprising 14 shift workers and 13 day workers. Subjects were workers from the health area aged 25 to 60 years. Minor psychiatric disorders were accessed by Self Report Questionnaire (SRQ-20) and depressive symptoms by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Chronotype was accessed using Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ). Anthropometric measures were taken. RESULTS: Shift workers presented higher BMI (P = 0.03) and waist circumference (P = 0.004) than day workers. Years on shift work were significantly correlated to waist circumference (r = 0.43; P = 0.03) and age (r = 0.47; P = 0.02). Shift work was not correlated with depressive symptoms and chronotype. CONCLUSION: These results may suggest a role played by shift work on the development and/or the early clinic manifestations of metabolic disturbances, becoming a risk factor to metabolic syndrome.

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Body Mass Index and Depressive Symptoms: Testing for Adverse and Protective Associations in Two Twin Cohort Studies

Twin Research and Human Genetics ◽

10.1017/thg.2016.14 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 19 (4) ◽

pp. 306-311 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Markus Jokela ◽

Venla Berg ◽

Karri Silventoinen ◽

G. David Batty ◽

Archana Singh-Manoux ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Mass Index ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Cohort Studies ◽

Body Mass ◽

Genetic Model ◽

The United States ◽

Population Based ◽

The Us ◽

Mz Twins ◽

Pair Analysis

Studies have suggested both adverse and protective associations of obesity with depressive symptoms. We examined the contribution of environmental and heritable factors in this association. Participants were same-sex twin pairs from two population-based twin cohort studies, the Older Finnish Twin Cohort (n = 8,215; mean age = 44.1) and the US Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS; n = 1,105; mean age = 45.1). Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from self-reported height and weight. Depressive symptoms were assessed using Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI; Finnish Twin Cohort), and by negative and positive affect scales (MIDUS). In the Finnish Twin Cohort, higher BMI was associated with higher depressive symptoms in monozygotic (MZ) twins (B = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.0, 3.0) and dizygotic (DZ) twins (B = 1.17, 0.5, 1.9) with BMI >22. This association was observed in within-pair analysis in DZ twins (B = 1.47, CI = 0.4, 2.6) but not in within-pair analysis of MZ twins (B = 0.03, CI = -1.9, 2.0). Consistent with the latter result, a bivariate genetic model indicated that the association between higher BMI and higher depressive symptoms was largely mediated by genetic factors. The results of twin-pair analysis and bivariate genetic model were replicated in the MIDUS sample. These findings suggest an association between obesity and higher depressive symptoms, which is largely explained by shared heritable biological mechanisms.

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