Association between Obesity and Depression in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background: The prevalence of depression was two-fold higher in diabetic patients versus the general population. The combination of depression and diabetes is an important and complicated public health issue. The presence of metabolic alterations in patients with type 2 diabetes, such as obesity, could increase the severity of depression.

Aim of the Study: The aim of this study was to determine if obesity increases the risk for depression in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Shariatpur Sadar Upazila Health Complex and Private Hospitals, Asthma and Diabetes Care Center, Shariatpur, Bangladesh, from March 2020 to August 2020. A total of 339 diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity with symptoms of depression were included in this study. Among them, 53 patients with depression and 286 patients without depression were considered as Group I and Group II, respectively. BMI of ≥30 kg/m2 was considered as obesity. Statistical analyses of the results were obtained using window-based computer software devised with Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS-22).

Results: Nearly one-third (29.2%) of patients were in the third decade, and the female ratio was 1:1.8. Majority (98.1%) of patients had hyperlipidemia in Group I and 90(31.5%) in Group II. Patients having BMI ≥30 kg/m2 increased Risk 2.14 times with 95% CI 1.03-4.5 to develop depression in patients with type 2 diabetes. Family history of diabetes increased Risk 1.93 times with a 95% CI 1.0-2.8 to develop depression in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Conclusion: Hyperlipidemia, MI, HTN and BMI are traced as the significant determinants of type 2 DM with depression. It can be assumed that patients with type 2 DM and obesity are more likely to suffer from severe depression than those without.

Keywords: Depression, Diabetes, Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Obesity.