Atypical Depression Linked to Obesity
Major depressive disorder (MDD) with atypical features, including increased appetite and hypersomnia, is linked to obesity and other measures of adiposity, new research shows.
According to investigators, this increased risk is not explained by sociodemographic or lifestyle factors or the use of medications that might influence weight.
In addition, the study showed that the elevated body mass index (BMI) in patients with atypical depression is not a temporary phenomenon, but persists after depressive symptoms remit and is not attributable to new episodes.
The study, which is the first to assess prospectively the association between different subtypes of depression and weight changes, provides insights into the complex relationship between depression and obesity, according to lead study author Aurélie Lasserre, MD, Center for Psychiatric Epidemiology and Psychopathology, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Prilly, Switzerland.
And although it cannot inform clinical decisions, the study is useful in that it suggests that atypical features of depression may represent red flags about susceptibility to weight gain, she added.
“It’s important to be aware of this problem and to follow the weight of patients, and it might be a good idea to avoid weight-increasing drugs” in those with atypical depression.
The study was published online June 4 in JAMA Psychiatry
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