Affiliations: Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Nippon
Medical School, Japan
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Dr. T. Kawada, Department of Hygiene
and Public Health, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo
113-8602, Japan. Tel.: +81 3 3822 2131; Fax: +81 3 5685 3065; E-mail:
kawada@nms.ac.jp
Abstract: Objective: It has been suggested that the presence of a depressive
state is a predictor of increase of the body weight. However, to precisely
understand the nature of this relationship, the data should be controlled for
other factors that can also be associated with weight gain. Methods and Participants: To test the hypothesis that the presence
of a depressive state is associated with future weight gain, a 4-year
prospective occupation-based cohort study was conducted in male adult workers
(N=1730) at a railway company. Following the initial screening, follow-up
information was obtained via a legally required annual health examination. The
presence of a depressive state was identified using the Zung Self-Rating
Depression Scale (SDS). The weight of each participant was measured to the
nearest kilogram. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to test the
association between the depressive state and a weight gain of 4 kg or more over
the 4-year study period after controlling for potentially confounding variables
such as the age, smoking status, alcohol intake status, and physical
activity. Results: A weight gain of 4 kg or more over the 4-year study period
was significantly associated with the depressive state, even after controlling
for confounding variables (p< 0.05). Short-term longitudinal analysis also
revealed an association between the depressive state and subsequent increase of
the body weight. Conclusion: Since the depressive state was demonstrated to be an
important risk factor for increase of the body weight, further research on
depression should be conducted with a view to providing effective health
education.
Keywords: Weight gain, depressive state, lifestyle, occupational workers
