Being obese significantly increases the chances of also developing mental disorders. This applies to all age groups, with women at higher risk than men for most diseases, a recent study of the Complexity Science Hub and the Medical University of Vienna shows.
“We analyzed a population-wide national registry of inpatient hospitalizations in Austria from 1997 to 2014 to assess the relative risks of comorbidities for obesity and statistically significant gender differences,” explains Elma Dervic of the Complexity Science Hub.
The researchers found that an obesity diagnosis significantly enhances the likelihood of a wide range of mental disorders across all age groups - including depression, nicotine addiction, psychosis, anxiety, eating and personality disorders. “From a clinical point of view, these results emphasize the need to raise awareness of psychiatric diagnoses in obese patients and, if necessary, to consult specialists at an early stage of diagnosis”, says Michael Leutner of the Medical University of Vienna.
The researchers found that an obesity diagnosis significantly enhances the likelihood of a wide range of mental disorders across all age groups - including depression, nicotine addiction, psychosis, anxiety, eating and personality disorders. “From a clinical point of view, these results emphasize the need to raise awareness of psychiatric diagnoses in obese patients and, if necessary, to consult specialists at an early stage of diagnosis”, says Michael Leutner of the Medical University of Vienna.
FIRST DIAGNOSIS: OBESITY
“To find out which disease typically occurred first, and which came afterwards, we had to develop a new method,” explains Dervic. This allowed the researchers to determine if there were trends and typical patterns in disease occurrence.
For all co-diagnoses except the psychosis spectrum, obesity was significantly more likely to be the first diagnosis made, before psychiatric diagnosis manifested. “Until now, physicians often considered psychopharmacological medications to cause the association between mental disorders and obesity as well as diabetes. This may be true for schizophrenia, where we see the opposite time order, but our data does not support this for depression or other psychiatric diagnoses,” says Alexander Kautzky of Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of the Medical University Vienna. However, it is not yet known if obesity directly interferes with mental health, or if early stages of psychiatric disorders are insufficiently recognized.
For all co-diagnoses except the psychosis spectrum, obesity was significantly more likely to be the first diagnosis made, before psychiatric diagnosis manifested. “Until now, physicians often considered psychopharmacological medications to cause the association between mental disorders and obesity as well as diabetes. This may be true for schizophrenia, where we see the opposite time order, but our data does not support this for depression or other psychiatric diagnoses,” says Alexander Kautzky of Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of the Medical University Vienna. However, it is not yet known if obesity directly interferes with mental health, or if early stages of psychiatric disorders are insufficiently recognized.
GREATER IMPACT IN WOMEN
Surprisingly, the researchers found significant gender differences for most disorders - with women showing an increased risk for all disorders except schizophrenia and nicotine addiction.
While 16.66% of obese men also suffer from nicotine abuse disorder, only up to 8.58% of obese women do. With depression, for example, the situation is just the opposite. The rate of diagnosed depressive episodes was almost three times higher in obese women (13.3% obese; 4.8% non-obese). Obese men were twice as likely to be affected (6.61% obese; 3.21% non-obese).
While 16.66% of obese men also suffer from nicotine abuse disorder, only up to 8.58% of obese women do. With depression, for example, the situation is just the opposite. The rate of diagnosed depressive episodes was almost three times higher in obese women (13.3% obese; 4.8% non-obese). Obese men were twice as likely to be affected (6.61% obese; 3.21% non-obese).
COUNTERACT AT A YOUNG AGE
At present, obesity is a highly prevalent disease worldwide. The fact that it promotes disorders of the metabolic system, as well as more severe cardiometabolic sequelae (diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, and dyslipidemia), is well-recognized and has already been extensively researched.
Since this study now also shows that obesity often precedes severe mental disorders, the findings underscore its importance as a pleiotropic risk factor for health problems of all kinds. This affects young age groups in particular, where the risk is most pronounced. Therefore, thorough screening for mental health problems in obese patients is urgently needed to enable prevention and facilitate appropriate treatment.
Since this study now also shows that obesity often precedes severe mental disorders, the findings underscore its importance as a pleiotropic risk factor for health problems of all kinds. This affects young age groups in particular, where the risk is most pronounced. Therefore, thorough screening for mental health problems in obese patients is urgently needed to enable prevention and facilitate appropriate treatment.
FIND OUT MORE
The study “Obesity as pleiotropic risk state for metabolic and mental health throughout life” has been published in Translational Psychiatry (doi: 10.1038/s41398-023-02447-w).
ABOUT THE COMPLEXITY SCIENCE HUB
The mission of the Complexity Science Hub (CSH Vienna) is to host, educate, and inspire complex systems scientists dedicated to making sense of Big Data to boost science and society. Scientists at the Complexity Science Hub develop methods for the scientific, quantitative, and predictive understanding of complex systems.
The CSH Vienna is a joint initiative of AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Central European University CEU, Danube University Krems, Graz University of Technology, Medical University of Vienna, TU Wien, VetMedUni Vienna, Vienna University of Economics and Business, and Austrian Economic Chambers (WKO). https://www.csh.ac.at
ABOUT THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF VIENNA
The Medical University of Vienna (in short: MedUni Vienna) is one of the most traditional medical education and research facilities in Europe. With around 8,000 students, it is currently the largest medical training centre in the German-speaking world. With 6,000 employees, 30 departments and two clinical institutes, 13 medical theory centres and numerous highly specialised laboratories, it is one of Europe's leading research establishments in the biomedical sector. MedUni Vienna also has a medical history museum, the Josephinum.
