Association between change in depression and change in weight among women enrolled in weight loss treatment

Simon, Gregory E.; Rohde, Paul; Ludman, Evette J.; Jeffery, Robert W.; Linde, Jennifer A.; Operskalski, Belinda H.; Arterburn, David

doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2010.09.010

« Previous Next »General Hospital Psychiatry
Volume 32, Issue 6 , Pages 583-589, November 2010

Association between change in depression and change in weight among women enrolled in weight loss treatment☆

Gregory E. Simon, M.D., M.P.H.
- Group Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
- Corresponding author. Center for Health Studies, Seattle, WA 98101, USA. Tel.: +1 206 287 2979; fax: +1 206 287 2871.
Paul Rohde, Ph.D.
- Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
Evette J. Ludman, Ph.D.
- Group Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
Robert W. Jeffery, Ph.D.
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
Jennifer A. Linde, Ph.D.
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
Belinda H. Operskalski, M.P.H.
- Group Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
David Arterburn, M.D., M.P.H.
- Group Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA

Received 12 October 2009; accepted 17 September 2010. published online 28 October 2010.

Abstract

Objective

To examine the association between improvement in depression and loss of weight among women with depressive symptoms entering a behavioral weight loss program.

Methods

Women aged 40 to 65 with body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more and co-occurring symptoms of depression were identified by a population-based survey. A total of 203 of these women were enrolled in one of two behavioral treatment programs: one focused on weight loss and another on both weight loss and depression. Both programs included up to 26 group sessions over 12 months. Assessments at baseline, 6 months, 12 months and 24 months included measurement of weight, depressive symptoms, self-reported physical activity and estimated caloric intake (via food frequency questionnaire).

Results

Over the first 6 months, women with a decrease in depression score were more likely to lose 5 kg or more than women without a significant decrease in depression (38% vs. 22%, odds ratio=2.20, 95% CI=1.09 to 4.44). Over the same period, improvement in depression was associated with increase in physical activity but not with change in caloric intake. Change in depression and change in weight were not significantly associated over later intervals (between 6 and 12 months or between 12 and 24 months).