Association between adiposity and emergent depressive symptoms in a 10-years prospective cohort of older adults: The EpiFloripa Aging study

Background: The association between obesity and depressive symptoms has been described in the literature, but there is a scarcity of longitudinal data. This study aimed to verify the association between body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference and the incidence of depressive symptoms over a 10-year follow-up in a cohort of older adults.Methods: Data from the first (2009-2010), second (2013-2014), and third (2017-2019) waves of the EpiFloripa Aging Cohort Study were used. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) and classified in significant depressive symptoms for those with >= 6 points. The Generalized Estimating Equations model was used to estimate the longitudinal association between BMI and waist circumference and depressive symptoms across a 10-year follow-up.Results: The incidence of depressive symptoms (N = 580) was 9.9 %. The relationship between BMI and the incidence of depressive symptoms in older adults followed a U-shaped curve. Older adults with obesity had an incidence relative ratio of 76 % (IRR = 1.24, p = 0.035) for increasing the score of depressive symptoms after 10 years, compared to those with overweight. The higher category of waist circumference (Male: >= 102; Female: >= 88 cm) was associated with depressive symptoms (IRR = 1.09, p = 0.033), only in a non-adjusted analysis. Limitations: Relatively high follow-up dropout rate; Few individuals in the underweight BMI category; BMI must be considered with caution because it does not measure only fat mass.Conclusions: Obesity was associated with the incidence of depressive symptoms when compared with overweight in older adults.

Automated summary

This study investigated the long-term association between BMI, waist circumference, and the incidence of depressive symptoms in older adults. The findings showed that obesity was associated with a higher incidence of depressive symptoms compared to overweight individuals after 10 years. Additionally, a larger waist circumference was also related to depressive symptoms.