Determining the relationship between nutrition and depression status of obese adolescents

Obesity and depression are public health problems that adversely affect the health of adolescents and are widespread. This study was conducted to investigate the possible relationship between the occurrence of depression and possible dietary factors involved in depression and anxiety formation by comparing nutritional status, anthropometric measurements and some biochemical findings of healthy and obese adolescents. A total of 68 adolescents (n=38 obese and n=30 non-obese) participated in the study between the dates of March-December 2013 and the volunteer age group of 12-18 years of the study Fatih University Hospital Diet Polyclinic. (Covaks Depression Scale/CDS, State and Trait Anxiety Inventory / STAI-1, STAI-2), Quality of Life Scale for Children / PEDS), one-day nutritional expenditure, food consumption frequency and some anthropometric measurements and nutritional status were evaluated. When the symptoms of depression were evaluated, there was no significant difference between obese and non-obese adolescents (p>0,05). A statistically significant linear relationship was found between anthropometric measurements and depression (p>0,05). There was a negative correlation between body mass index (BMI) and symptoms of depression in adolescents (p<0.05). As waist circumference increased in male adolescents (central obesity), there was a significant increase in depression symptoms (p<0.05). Serum vitamin D levels in obese adolescents were significantly lower (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between serum insulin and HOMA index values of adolescents with and without depression (p>0,05), fasting blood glucose was significantly higher (p<0,05) and serum vitamin D level was low in depression group (p<0.05). As a result of this study, it has been shown that there is a relationship between obesity, depression and nutrition in adolescents. In the prevention and treatment of obesity in adolescents, it is important to evaluate the relationship between obesity and depression, eating behavior disorder and nutritional status.