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Objective: Very little is known about whether overweight and obese children have longterm risk for mental health problems. This study examined the association between overweight and obesity in childhood and DSM-IV mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders in young adulthood. Method: Participants in a national Australian school survey when aged 7 – 15 years in 1985 were re-interviewed 20 years later as young adults aged 26 – 36 years (1135 women, 1108 men). Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from measured height and weight in childhood and adulthood. Children were classifi ed as overweight or obese based on a BMI  85th centile for age and sex-specifi c height and weight. Obesity in adulthood was defi ned as BMI of  30. Twelve-month DSM-IV diagnoses of mood, anxiety and substance use disorders were obtained from the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. The relative risk (RR) for each class of mental disorder was estimated for childhood overweight/ obesity versus non-overweight, and for four weight trajectories: non-overweight in childhood and non-obese in adulthood; overweight in childhood and non-obese in adulthood; non-overweight in childhood and obese in adulthood; and overweight in childhood and obese in adulthood. Results: Childhood overweight and obesity was associated with an increased risk of mood disorder in adulthood (RR  1.54, 95%CI 1.06 – 2.23, p  0.03), with a similar risk observed among girls and boys. When weight in adulthood was taken into consideration, increased risk of mood disorder was observed only among overweight girls who were obese in adulthood (adjusted RR  2.03, 95%CI 1.22 – 3.66, p  0.006), with childhood overweight or obesity in non-obese adults not associated with any mental disorder. Conclusions: Childhood overweight may increase risk for mood disorder in adulthood, especially among overweight girls who become obese women. These results suggest that prevention of childhood overweight is equally important in both sexes for reducing risk of diagnosed mood disorder in adulthood.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	obesity, child, cohort studies, mental disorders
Research Division:	Medical and Health Sciences
Research Group:	Public Health and Health Services
Research Field:	Mental Health
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health)
Objective Field:	Mental Health
Author:	Sanderson, K (Associate Professor Kristy Sanderson)
Author:	McKercher, C (Dr Charlotte McKercher)
Author:	Venn, AJ (Professor Alison Venn)
ID Code:	70270
Year Published:	2011
Web of Science® Times Cited:	38
Deposited By:	Menzies Institute for Medical Research
Deposited On:	2011-06-14
Last Modified:	2012-03-19
Downloads:	3 View Download Statistics