Ds. Pine et al., PSYCHIATRIC-SYMPTOMS IN ADOLESCENCE AS PREDICTORS OF OBESITY IN EARLYADULTHOOD - A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY, American journal of public health, 87(8), 1997, pp. 1303-1310
Objectives. This study examined the longitudinal relationship between
psychopathology and obesity in young adulthood. Methods. More than 700
youth in a population-based sample were psychiatrically assessed in 1
983 (mean age = 14 years) and 1992 (mean age = 22 years). Self-reporte
d body mass index (BMI) in 1992 was regressed on measures of depressio
n and conduct disorder as well as a set of covariates including indice
s of physical health, social class, intelligence, and cigarette and al
cohol use. Associations were examined with BMI treated as a continuous
variable and with a binary index of obesity derived from the BMI dist
ribution in each gender. Results. BMI in young adults was positively r
elated to a number of covariates. With all covariates controlled, BMI
was inversely related to adult depressive symptoms in males but not fe
males. BMI was positively related to adolescent symptoms of conduct di
sorder in both sexes. Similar associations were found between psychiat
ric symptoms and obesity. Conclusions. Conduct disorder symptoms in ad
olescence predicted BMI and obesity in early adulthood. These associat
ions remained after controlling for factors that can affect the associ
ation between psychopathology and obesity.