Depression and Eating Disorders in Overweight Women

Abstract

Depression and Eating Disorders in Overweight Women

Nitchawan  Ungrungseesopon      MD

Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University

Objectives : To study depression and eating disorder and to find relation between depression and eating disorder and to find these relation between 2 diseases and body mass index (BMI).

Research design : Descriptive study.

Subjects : Fifty overweight women were studied in obesity clinic from November 2000 to March 2001.

Methods: Data were collected from questionnaires, the questionnaires were composed of personal identification data and depression inventory. Eating disorders were diagnosed by using diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorder - DSM IV criteria. Data obtained were analysed by finding relation between depression and eating disorder and finding relation between 2 diseases and BMI.

Main outcome measures: Relation between depression and eating disorder, between depression and body mass index and between depression and BMI.

Results : Most subjects were younger than 26 years of age, studying in high school and university. There was no statistical relation between depression and eating disorder, between depression and BMI and between eating disorder and BMI. In overweight women who wanted to lose weight, there were moderate

risk of depression (6%), eating disorders (34%) including bulimia nervosa 10% and eating disorder NOS 24%. Binge eating was found in all eating disorder patients and purging behavior was found in all depressive patients.

Conclusion : Depression and eating disorder occured in overweight women more than general population. There was no statistical relation between depression, eating disorder and body mass index.

Key words : depression, eating- disorder, overweight, woman

Vajira Med J 2001 ; 45 : 197 - 205