Body mass index, waist circumference and waist-hip ratio are associated with depressive symptoms in older Chinese women: results from the Rugao Longevity and Ageing Study (RuLAS)

Tingfan Zhi; Qunshan Wang; Zuyun Liu; Yinsheng Zhu; Yong Wang; Rui Shi; Zhengdong Wang; Xuefeng Chu; Xiaofeng Wang; Xiaoyan Jiang

doi:10.1080/13607863.2015.1124837

Body mass index, waist circumference and waist-hip ratio are associated with depressive symptoms in older Chinese women: results from the Rugao Longevity and Ageing Study (RuLAS)

Aging Ment Health. 2017 May;21(5):518-523. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2015.1124837. Epub 2015 Dec 21.

Authors

Tingfan Zhi^{1

2}, Qunshan Wang³, Zuyun Liu⁴, Yinsheng Zhu⁵, Yong Wang⁵, Rui Shi⁶, Zhengdong Wang⁵, Xuefeng Chu⁵, Xiaofeng Wang⁴, Xiaoyan Jiang^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ a Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias of the Ministry of Education of China , Tongji University School of Medicine , Shanghai , China.
² b Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology , Tongji University School of Medicine , Shanghai , China.
³ c Department of Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital , Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine , Shanghai , China.
⁴ d Unit of Epidemiology, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and MOE Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology , School of Life Sciences and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University , Shanghai , China.
⁵ e Rugao People's Hospital , Rugao , Jiangsu , China.
⁶ f Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, East Hospital , Tongji University School of Medicine , Shanghai , China.

PMID: 26689763
DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2015.1124837

Abstract

Objective: The objective was to determine whether obesity is associated with depressive symptoms among older Chinese.

Methods: Data from the cross-sectional Rugao Longevity and Ageing Study were used including anthropometric measurements (body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-hip ratio (WHR)), socio-demographic characteristics, living habits, physical health and cognitive impairment. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the association between obesity and depressive symptoms.

Results: Among 1732 elderly Chinese aged 70-84 years, the prevalence of depressive symptoms was 6.7% (5.0%-8.5%) in men and 12.5% (10.4%-14.6%) in women. A negative linear trend was found between depressive symptoms and BMI in women (P_{for trend} < 0.05). Women with BMI ≥ 28.0 kg/m² had lower chances (OR = 0.41 (0.20-0.84), p = 0.01) to have elevated depressive symptoms compared with their normal weight counterparts. Furthermore, consistent trends were observed with lower depression prevalence rates in higher WC and WHR categories in women. However, no such associations were apparent in men.

Conclusion: Higher BMI, WC and WHR categories were all associated with a lower risk of depressive symptoms in older women.

Keywords: Elderly; body mass index; depressive symptoms; waist circumference; waist–hip ratio.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Activities of Daily Living
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aging
Body Mass Index*
Case-Control Studies
Chi-Square Distribution
China / epidemiology
Depression / complications
Depression / epidemiology*
Female
Humans
Logistic Models
Male
Neuropsychological Tests
Obesity / complications
Obesity / psychology*
Prevalence
Risk Factors
Sex Distribution
Social Class
Waist Circumference*
Waist-Hip Ratio*