The research, published in the International Journal of
Epidemiology, shows that the psychological impact of being overweight
causes depression, rather than associated illnesses such as diabetes.
Researchers looked at UK Biobank data from more than 48,000 people with
depression, comparing them with a control group of more than 290,000 people
born between 1938 and 1971, who provided medical and genetic information.
Hospital data and self-reporting were used to determine whether people
had depression.
Director of the Australian Centre for Precision Health, UniSA Professor
Elina Hypponen, who co-led the study, said the team took a genomic approach to
their research.
"We separated the psychological component of obesity from the
impact of obesity-related health problems using genes associated with higher
body mass index (BMI), but with lower risk of diseases like diabetes,"
Prof Hypponen says.
"These genes were just as strongly associated with depression as
those genes associated with higher BMI and diabetes. This suggests that being
overweight causes depression both with and without related health issues --
particularly in women"
At the other ends of the BMI spectrum, very thin men are more prone to
depression that either men of normal weight or very thin women.
"The current global obesity epidemic is very concerning," Prof
Hypponen says. "Alongside depression, the two are estimated to cost the
global community trillions of dollars each year.
"Our research shows that being overweight doesn't just increase the
risks of chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease; it can
also lead to depression," Prof Hypponen says.
Source:
Materials provided by University of South Australia. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.
No comments:
Post a Comment