Gender Determines the Pattern of Correlation between Body Mass Index and Major Depressive Disorder among Children and Adolescents: Results from Iranian Children and Adolescents' Psychiatric Disorders Study.

Background: We aimed to determine the correlation of BMI with depression and to determine the role of gender in this association, in a large study sample. Methods: We used the data of participants in the Iranian Children and Adolescents' Psychiatric Disorders (IRCAP) Study, conducted in 2017. This study was a national community-based, cross-sectional study in which the urban and rural areas of all provinces of Iran were covered. Overall 30,532 children and adolescents, ages 6-18, were randomly selected with the stratified cluster sampling method. Results: Of a total of 30,532 participants, 25,321, whose BMI had been measured and who had been interviewed with Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS), entered the study (12,455 boys and 12,866 girls). We categorized the participants according to the national cutoff points for BMI classification. After controlling for age, father's and mother's job and education, and place of residence, the odds ratio (OR) of depression in underweight, healthy weight, and overweight boys compared with obese boys was 2.19 [95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.00-4.81], 1.06 (95% CI: 0.73-1.55), and 0.80 (95% CI: 0.49-1.32), respectively. In the girls' subgroup, after controlling for the aforementioned covariates, the OR of depression in healthy weight, overweight, and obese participants compared with underweight subjects was 1.29 (95% CI: 0.52-3.19), 1.54 (95% CI: 0.59-3.98), and 1.79 (95% CI: 0.68-4.69), respectively. Conclusions: Underweight boys were more likely diagnosed with depression than normal weight and overweight boys. While in girls, the probability of depression increased by increased BMI.

The prevalence, comorbidity and socio-demographic factors of depressive disorder among Iranian children and adolescents: To identify the main predictors of depression.

BACKGROUND: Depressive disorders are a major public health problem in developed and developing countries. Recently, several risk factors have been described for depressive disorders in children and adolescents. The aim of the present study was to identify the main risk factors that can affect the incidence of depression in Iranian children and adolescents. METHODS: A total of 30,546 children and adolescents (between 6 and 18 years of age) participated in a cross-sectional study to identify the predictors of depressive disorders. Depressive disorders were assessed using the Persian version of the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS-PL). In addition, a demographic characteristics questionnaire was completed by parents of the participants. The data was analyzed using the SPSS22 software via performing the descriptive analysis and the multiple logistic regression analysis methods. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Results showed that a higher age (15-18), being female, and the father's unemployment were associated with an increased odds ratio for depressive disorders. The age of 10-14 (OR = 2.1; 95% CI, 1.57-2.81), the age of 15-18 (OR = 4.44; 95% CI, 3.38-5.83), female gender (OR = 1.44; 95% CI, 1.2-1.73) and the father's unemployment (OR = 1.59; 95% CI, 1.01-2.5) were significant positive predictors, whereas, the mother's job (as a housewife) (OR = 0.66; 95% CI, 0.45-0.96) and a history of psychiatric hospitalization of the father and mother (OR = 0.34; 95% CI, 0.15-0.78 and OR = 0.34; 95% CI, 0.14-0.84) were negative predictors for depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: Depressive symptoms are common in children and adolescents and are correlated with age and gender. The assessment of the prevalence of psychiatric disorders, especially the depressive disorders and their comorbidities, may help to prevent mood disorders in children and adolescents.