Life course BMI trajectories from childhood to mid-adulthood are differentially associated with anxiety and depression outcomes in middle age
Authors' conclusion
We found an increased risk of depression in middle age among individuals with a persistently high BMI from childhood to mid-adulthood and individuals with an average BMI in childhood which then increased consistently throughout adulthood. Encouragingly, resolving childhood adiposity by adulthood was associated with lesser anxiety symptoms. Taken together, these findings highlight the need to target mental health screening and treatment towards high-risk BMI trajectory groups and the importance of early interventions to prevent and resolve excess weight.
Study context
- Population
- Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study participants; five BMI trajectories from age 5 to 45 years; outcomes assessed at age 53
- Participants
- 2,416 participants
- Exposure
- BMI trajectories from age 5 to 45 years vs persistently average trajectory
- Outcome
- Current depression (Patient Health Questionnaire) and anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale)
- Follow-up
- Age 53
Methodological detailsgroup-based trajectory modelling, adjusted logistic regression
- Group-based trajectory modelling
- Adjusted logistic regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Depression in middle age
Each group vs persistently averageOdds ratio (95% CI)
Child average-increasing
2.24(1.24–4.06)
Persistently high
2.64(1.26–5.52)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | OR (CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Greater severity of depressive symptoms · age 53Child average-increasingvs Persistently averageHighest odds in this group | 2.36 (1.59–3.49) | |
| Severity of anxiety symptoms · age 53Child high-decreasingvs Persistently averageLess severe symptoms | 0.68 (0.51–0.91) | |
| 0.20.5125Odds ratio (log scale) |
Original publication
Life course BMI trajectories from childhood to mid-adulthood are differentially associated with anxiety and depression outcomes in middle age. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 9 May 2023. doi:10.
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