The Relationship between Psychological Factors and Weight Gain

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate stress, depression, sleeping time, physical activity, and dietary patterns as factors causing weight gain and investigate which of these factors have a greater effect on weight gain. METHODS: Data were obtained from the seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2016. Among the respondents, 3,163 adults aged 19–64 years were included in the survey, after excluding non-responders and those with diseases that may affect weight change. The t-test and chi-square test were used to analyze the relationship between weight gain and general characteristics. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate weight changes according to stress, depression, sleep time, physical activity, and dietary patterns and evaluate the odds ratios (ORs) for measuring these associations. RESULTS: Participants in the weight gain group were younger and more likely to be obese than those in the control group. Factors that could cause weight gain among women were stress awareness (OR, 1.271; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.012–1.597), physical inactivity (OR, 1.250; 95% CI, 1.018–1.535), and skipping breakfast (OR, 1.277; 95% CI, 1.028–1.587). Depression was significantly associated with weight gain among women, but not after adjusting for other variables. There were no significant associations with sleeping time. None of these factors in men were significantly associated with weight gain. CONCLUSION: Stress awareness was significantly associated with weight gain among women, while other psychological factors were not significantly associated with weight gain.