Short-term and long-term effects of major depressive disorder subtypes on obesity markers and impact of sex on these associations

Background: Only a few studies with conflicting results have examined the effects of sex on the prospective as-sociation between depression and subsequent obesity. Objective: (1) To simultaneously assess the associations of the subtypes (atypical, melancholic, unspecified) of major depressive disorder (MDD) measured at baseline and subtypes of major depressive episodes (MDE) that emerged during a 5.5-year follow-up with changes in obesity markers (body mass index, waist circumference, fat mass) during this follow-up, and (2) to test the effect of sex on these associations. Methods: Data from CoLaus vertical bar PsyCoLaus, a population-based cohort study including 2702 participants (50.1% women, mean age 49.6 years). Criteria for mental disorders were elicited using semi-structured interviews. Results: History of atypical MDD at baseline was associated with a steeper increase in BMI and waist circum-ference, whereas atypical MDE during follow-up was associated with a steeper increase in the three studied obesity markers. Melancholic MDD at baseline was associated with a steeper increase in BMI. Several significant interactions with sex were found indicating higher increase in fat mass in men than in women following melancholic MDD reported at baseline, higher decrease in BMI and fat mass in women than in men related to melancholic MDE emerging during follow-up and higher increase in waist circumference in men than in women following unspecified MDD reported at baseline. Limitations: Urban sample which may not be representative for the whole population. Conclusions: Our results further advocate for the specific need of a thorough monitoring of obesity markers in patients with atypical MDD and suggest less favorable obesity marker changes mainly related to melancholic MDE in men.

Automated summary

This study aimed to explore the relationship between subtypes of depression and obesity markers, as well as the influence of sex on these associations. The findings showed significant associations between atypical depression and increases in body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference, as well as between melancholic depression and BMI increase. There were also significant interactions with sex.