Involuntary Weight Loss and Late-Life Depression in Korean Older Adults

BACKGROUND: To investigate the association between involuntary weight loss (IWL) and late-life depression (LLD) in a population-based cohort study. METHODS: Data (N=6945) obtained from the 2008 baseline and 2011 follow-up assessments of the Living Profiles of Older People Survey in Korea were used. Changed body weight between the 2008 and 2011 was classified into stable weight (<−5% ∼ <+5%), lightweight loss (≥ −5% ∼ <−10%), moderate weight loss (≥ −10%), lightweight gain (+≥5 ∼ <+10%), and moderate weight gain (≥+10%). RESULTS: Compared to the stable weight group, the moderate weight loss group had a higher risk of LLD (odds ratio=1.99, 95% confidence interval=1.61–2.46, P<0.001) even after adjustments for covariates, including age, BMI, education, income, life of solitude, smoking, physical activity, dependent aging, comorbidity, and cognitive function. CONCLUSION: IWL is significantly associated with LLD in Korean older adults, implying the prognostic importance of IWL for presenting mental health issues later in life.