Weight changes in Portuguese patients with depression: which factors are involved?

BACKGROUND &AIMS: Depression may lead to obesity, just as obesity can contribute to the disease; yet, changes in the dietary pattern and food habits in depressive syndromes have been scantily investigated. We aimed to identify possible associations between nutritional factors and depressive disorder. METHODS: This cross sectional study included 127 consecutive ambulatory adult patients with depression (DSM-IV), under psychiatric treatment. All study parameters were classified according to sex & age: BMI, waist circumference, %fat mass, food intake & physical activity. RESULTS: Patients’ mean age was 48 ± 13 (18–81) yrs, 94% were women. Overweight/obesity was found in 72% of the cohort, 72% had excessive fat mass & 69% had a waist circumference above the maximum cut-off value. Longer disease was associated with higher BMI +%fat mass, p < 0.003. Weight gain during illness was registered in 87%; just 12% lost weight, though undernutrition did not occur. Weight gain and greater fat mass were related with higher BMI, p = 0.002. The pattern of food intake was poor, monotonous and inadequate in 59% of patients; there was also a regular consumption of hypercaloric foods by 78% pts. Overall, the usual diet was associated with weight gain, p = 0.002. Antidepressants (75%) and benzodiazepines (72%) were prevalent; these drugs were associated with weight gain, p = 0.01; 80% pts did not practice any physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: There was a positive association with overweight/obesity: a striking & clinically worrying prevalence of high fat mass, abdominal fat, weight gain, poor nutritional intake and sedentarism. This unhealthy pattern points towards the need of a multidisciplinary approach to promote healthy lifestyles that may help depressive disorder management.