ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of depression in subjects before starting a weight-reduction programme. METHODS: The study group involved 173 obese subjects aged 47.0 +/- 16.5 years, body mass index (BMI) 36.1 +/- 6.3, weight 96.2 +/- 18.3 kg. The body weight and height were measured and BMI was calculated. Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) was used for the evaluation of depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Severe depression was diagnosed in 84 subjects (mean BMI 37.5 +/- 6.3, mean weight 98.1 +/- 17.6 kg, age 48.7 +/- 16.0, 22.2 +/- 1.6 points), mild depression was diagnosed in 65 subjects (mean BMI 34.7 +/- 4.8, mean weight 95.3 +/- 18.1 kg, age 45.9 +/- 16.6; 10.8 +/- 2.0 points), and 24 subjects (mean BMI 35.0 +/- 8.7, mean weight 92.2 +/- 21.1 kg, age 44.0 +/- 17.5, 6.5 +/- 0.5 points) did not have depression. We observed differences in BMI between subjects without depression and severe depression (p < 0.05) and between mild and severe depression. We did not observe differences of age and body mass between these subgroups. Correlations between weight, BMI and BDI score were found in all subjects. CONCLUSION: Depression often accompanies obesity. The depression levels increased in morbidly obese persons in comparison to moderately obese patients.
