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Excess body weight and specific types of depressive symptoms: is there a mediating role of systemic low-grade inflammation?
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-10, 05:52 authored by Keqin Chu, Dorina CadarDorina Cadar, Eleonora Iob, Philipp FrankObjectives Obesity is associated with an increased risk of depression. Systemic low-grade inflammation, a plausible consequence of obesity, has also been linked to depression. However, the potential mediating effects of systemic low-grade inflammation on the association between excess body weight and specific symptom domains of depression remain uncertain. This study examined whether systemic low-grade inflammation mediated the associations of excess body weight (overweight and obesity) with subsequent overall, cognitive-affective, and somatic depressive symptoms. Design This study used a prospective cohort design. Methods The final analytical sample included 4,942 adults aged =50 years drawn from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). Body mass index (BMI) and covariates were ascertained at baseline (wave 4, 2008/09). Continuous BMI scores were divided into four categories: ‘normal weight’ (18.5 = BMI <25 kg/m2); ‘overweight’ (25 = BMI <30 kg/m2); ‘obesity’ (BMI =30 kg/m2); in addition to ‘excess body weight’ (‘overweight’ and ‘obesity’ combined). Covariates included sociodemographic variables, behavioural factors, and chronic physical conditions. Serum concentrations of CRP were measured at wave 6 (2012/13). Depressive symptoms were assessed at baseline and ten years later (wave 9, 2018/19), using the 8-item Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale. Two symptom domains were constructed, distinguishing between cognitive-affective (depressed mood, loneliness, sadness, enjoyment in life, and happiness) and somatic (sleep problems, low energy levels, and fatigue) symptoms. Mediation analyses were performed to examine whether CRP statistically mediated the associations between BMI categories and depressive symptoms. Results In multivariable-adjusted analyses, excess body weight was associated with elevated somatic (OR = 1.231, 95% CI: 1.029, 1.473), but not cognitive-affective or overall depressive symptoms at follow-up. Higher CRP was associated with elevated somatic (OR = 1.156, 95% CI: 1.061, 1.259), but not cognitive-affective or overall depressive symptoms. CRP acted as a partial mediator (14.92%) of the association between excess body weight and elevated somatic, but not cognitive-affective, or overall depressive symptoms. Conclusion Systemic low-grade inflammation may partially explain the association of excess body weight with somatic depressive symptoms, but not the associations with cognitive-affective or overall depressive symptoms.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Published version
Journal
Brain, Behavior, and ImmunityISSN
0889-1591Publisher
ElsevierExternal DOI
Volume
108Page range
233-244Event location
NetherlandsDepartment affiliated with
- BSMS Neuroscience Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2023-01-05First Open Access (FOA) Date
2023-01-05First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2023-01-05Usage metrics
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