This study examines differences in the rates of depression and anxiety symptoms in overweight vs. normal weight women before and after the menopause. In a population sample of 1 416 participants of the KORA-Survey F3 2004-2005 (age 35-74 years), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip-ratio (WHR) und waist-to-height-ratio (WHtR) were measured via physical examination. Depression and anxiety were assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Compared with normal weight, obesity was associated with depression in premenopausal women. This held for elevated BMI-, WC- and WHtR-scores (OR=3.7, 4.2, and 2.8), underlining the relevance of both general and abdominal obesity. Menopausal status may be a moderator for the association of obesity and depression, which - given the interaction between these 2 risk factors - may be of preventive importance in regard to the development of cardiovascular outcomes such as coronary heart disease.
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.