Body mass index and mental disorders: A Danish cohort study
Authors' conclusion
Both underweight and obesity were associated with elevated risk of mental disorders, although the patterns of specific mental disorders differed. Our findings underscore the importance of monitoring mental health in people with underweight and obesity.
Study context
- Population
- Participants aged 18–79 years (49.8% male) in the Danish National Health Survey (2010/2013)
- Participants
- 290,468 participants
- Exposure
- Body mass index (BMI) categories
- Outcome
- Specific mental disorders (incidence rates per 1000 person-years and adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs))
- Follow-up
- Median 5 years, until December 2018
Methodological detailsquestionnaire and registry data, cause-specific Cox proportional hazard regression
- Questionnaire and registry data
- Cause-specific Cox proportional hazard regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Specific mental disorders
- U-shaped associations of BMI with schizophrenia, mood disorders, anxiety, stress-related and somatoform disorders, eating disorders and personality disorders
- Organic and substance use disorders associated with low but not high BMI (≥25 kg/m²)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Associations by sex and age
- All associations more prominent among women than men; most attenuated with advancing age
Original publication
Body mass index and mental disorders: A Danish cohort study. Diabetes Obes Metab. Published 10 October 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →