Association of Metabolically Healthy Obesity and Future Depression: Using National Health Insurance System Data in Korea from 2009–2017

Yongseok Seo, Seungyeon Lee, Joung-Sook Ahn, Seongho Min, Min-Hyuk Kim, Jang-Young Kim, Dae Ryong Kang, Sangwon Hwang, Phor Vicheka and Jinhee Lee
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Yongseok Seo: Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju 26426, Korea
Seungyeon Lee: Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju 26426, Korea
Joung-Sook Ahn: Department of Psychiatry, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju 26426, Korea
Seongho Min: Department of Psychiatry, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju 26426, Korea
Min-Hyuk Kim: Department of Psychiatry, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju 26426, Korea
Jang-Young Kim: Department of Internal Medicine, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju 26426, Korea
Dae Ryong Kang: Department of Precision Medicine, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju 26426, Korea
Sangwon Hwang: Institute of AI and Big Data in Medicine, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju 26426, Korea
Phor Vicheka: Institute of AI and Big Data in Medicine, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju 26426, Korea
Jinhee Lee: Department of Psychiatry, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju 26426, Korea

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 18, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: (1) Background: The health implications associated with the metabolically healthy obese (MHO) phenotype, in particular related to symptoms of depression, are still not clear. the purpose of this study is to check whether depression and metabolic status are relevant by classifying them into four groups in accordance with the MHO diagnostic standard. Other impressions seen were the differences between sexes and the effects of the MHO on the occurrence of depression. (2) Methods: A sample of 3,586,492 adult individuals from the National Health Insurance Database of Korea was classified into four categories by their metabolic status and body mass index: (1) metabolically healthy non-obese (MHN); (2) metabolically healthy obese (MHO); (3) metabolically unhealthy non-obese (MUN); and (4) metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO). Participants were followed for six to eight years for new incidences of depression. The statistical significance of the general characteristics of the four groups, as well as the mean differences in metabolic syndrome risk factors, was assessed with the use of a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). (3) Results: The MHN ratio in women was higher than in men (men 39.3%, women 55.2%). In both men and women, depression incidence was the highest among MUO participants (odds ratio (OR) = 1.01 in men; OR = 1.09 in women). It was concluded as well that, among the risk factors of metabolic syndrome, waist circumference was the most related to depression. Among the four groups, the MUO phenotype was the most related to depression. Furthermore, in women participants, MHO is also related to a higher risk of depressive symptoms. These findings indicate that MHO is not a totally benign condition in relation to depression in women. (4) Conclusion: Therefore, reducing metabolic syndrome and obesity patients in Korea will likely reduce the incidence of depression.

Keywords: metabolically healthy obese phenotype; metabolic syndrome; obesity; depression (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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