Abstract
Objectives: The US ranks ninth in obesity in the world, and approximately 7% of US adults experience major depressive disorder. Social isolation due to the stigma attached to obesity might trigger depression. Methods: This paper examined the impact of obesity on depression. To overcome the endogeneity problem, we constructed pseudo-panel data using the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System from 1997 to 2008. Results: The results were robust, and body mass index (BMI) was found to have a positive effect on depression days and the percentage of depressed individuals in the population. Conclusions: We attempted to overcome the endogeneity problem by using a pseudo-panel approach and found that increases in the BMI increased depression days (or being depressed) to a statistically significant extent, with a large effect size.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 262-267 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health |
| Volume | 50 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2017 Jul |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea Grant funded by the Korean Government (NRF-2014-S1A3A2-044238) and Korea University (K1613541).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 The Korean Society for Preventive Medicine.
Keywords
- Body mass index
- Depression
- Obesity
- Social isolation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
