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Adiposity and psychosocial outcomes at ages 30 and 35

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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To examine associations between adiposity and adult psychosocial outcomes (depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, self-esteem, household income, personal income, savings/investments) in a New Zealand birth cohort, by gender. Adiposity was assessed using Body Mass Index scores classified on a 3-point scale of BMI: <25.0, overweight (25.0–29.9) or obese (≥30).

Methods

Data were gathered via face-to-face and telephone interviews for the Christchurch Health and Development Study (CHDS), comprising a birth cohort of 1265 children born in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1977. BMI and psychosocial outcome information was collected in 2007 (30 years; n = 977) and in 2012 (35 years; n = 923).

Results

Population-averaged regression modeling showed evidence of statistically significant (p < 0.05) associations between increasing adiposity and adverse psychosocial outcomes for females, but not for males. After adjustment for child and family background covariates the strength of the associations for females was reduced; with four associations (depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, equivalized household income and savings/investments) remaining statistically significant (p < 0.05). In contrast, for males there was a significant (p = 0.008) positive association between adiposity and higher personal net weekly income after covariate adjustment.

Conclusions

The findings suggest evidence of gender differences in the associations between adiposity and psychosocial outcomes. For females, there were small but pervasive tendencies for increasing adiposity to be related to more adverse mental health, psychological well-being and economic outcomes; whereas for males adiposity was either unrelated to these outcomes, or in the case of personal income, associated with greater economic advantage. The implications of these findings are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by grants from the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC 11/792), the National Child Health Research Foundation, the Canterbury Medical Research Foundation and the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Christchurch Health and Development Study, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, PO Box 4345, Christchurch, 8140, New Zealand

    Geraldine F. H. McLeod, David M. Fergusson & L. John Horwood

  2. Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Frances A. Carter

  3. Canterbury District Health Board, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Frances A. Carter

Authors
  1. Geraldine F. H. McLeod
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  2. David M. Fergusson
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  3. L. John Horwood
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  4. Frances A. Carter
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Correspondence to David M. Fergusson.

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McLeod, G.F.H., Fergusson, D.M., John Horwood, L. et al. Adiposity and psychosocial outcomes at ages 30 and 35. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 51, 309–318 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-015-1101-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-015-1101-7

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