The authors aimed to examine the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and depressive disorder in adolescents at high risk for depression. The authors did a prospective longitudinal 3-wave study of offspring of parents with recurrent depression. Replication in population-based cohort study.
Three hundred and thirty-seven families where offspring were aged 9-17 years at baseline and 10-19 years at the final data point. Replication sample of adolescents from population-based cohort study aged 11-13 years at first assessment and 14-17 years at follow-up. Measurements was done using high risk sample used BMI, skin-fold thickness, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV)-defined major depressive disorder and depression symptoms using the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment (CAPA). Replication sample used BMI, DSM-IV depressive disorder and depression symptoms using the Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA).
The authors concluded that BMI does not significantly predict the development of depression in the offspring of parents with recurrent depression.