Depression, Cortisol Reactivity, and Obesity in Childhood and Adolescence

Abstract Purpose Depression in childhood is associated with higher body mass index (BMI), a relative measure of overweight, and overweight is associated with cortisol reactivity, indexed by heightened secretion of cortisol in response to a stressor. The current study uses a mediation model to examin...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of adolescent health 2009-10, Vol.45 (4), p.344-350
Main Authors: Dockray, Samantha, Ph.D, Susman, Elizabeth J., Ph.D, Dorn, Lorah D., Ph.D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescence
Adolescent
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Biological and medical sciences
Body Mass Index
Child
Child clinical studies
Children
Cortisol
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depression
Depression - physiopathology
Female
Humans
Hydrocortisone - metabolism
Hydrocortisone - secretion
Interviews as Topic
Male
Medical sciences
Metabolic diseases
Mood disorders
Obesity
Obesity - psychology
Pediatrics
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Reactivity
Stress
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract Purpose Depression in childhood is associated with higher body mass index (BMI), a relative measure of overweight, and overweight is associated with cortisol reactivity, indexed by heightened secretion of cortisol in response to a stressor. The current study uses a mediation model to examine the associations between symptoms of depression, cortisol reactivity and BMI in a cross-sectional study. Methods Children (N = 111) 8 to 13 years old and a parent completed structured interviews. The Child Behavior Checklist was used to assess symptoms of depression, and cortisol reactivity to the Trier Social Stress Test for Children was measured. Physical examinations were used to determine BMI (kg/m2 ) and pubertal stage. Results Depression was positively associated with BMI in both sexes. Age and pubertal stage were not significantly associated with BMI, nor was physical activity and BMI in a model including depression. In girls, but not in boys, the association between depression and BMI was mediated by cortisol reactivity. Conclusions The current findings attest to the significance of psychologic states as potential components in models of childhood obesity, and provide conceptual and empirical support for the inclusion of cortisol reactivity in these models.
ISSN:1054-139X
1879-1972
DOI:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.06.014