African American Ethnicity, Hypertension, Diabetes, and Arthritis Independently Predict Co-occurring Depression and Obesity among Community-dwelling Older Adult Alabamians

ABSTRACT

Although obesity and depression are quite common among older adults, surprisingly published literature has not examined factors associated with co-occurring depression and obesity among older adults. The knowledge that fills this gap would be advantageous for public health social workers and other health professionals who provide health care and public health services to older adults. The objectives of this study were to access the prevalence of and independent predictors of co-occurring depression and obesity among older adults in the state of Alabama. A retrospective analysis was conducted using a statewide survey of Alabamian community-dwelling older adults (n = 1,166). Binomial logistic regression was used to examine predictors of co-occurring depression and obesity. The prevalence of co-occurring depression and obesity among older adults was 16%. In the multivariate analysis, African American ethnicity (OR = 1.505, CI: 1.019–2.223), hypertension (OR = 1.593, CI: 1.050–2.416), diabetes (OR = 1.768, CI: 1.188–2.632), and arthritis (OR = 1.640, CI: 1.096–2.454) were positively associated with co-occurring depression and obesity). Older age (OR = 0.963, CI: 0.942–0.985) and higher levels of physical activity (OR = 1.640, CI: 1.096–2.454) were negatively associated with co-occurring depression and obesity. There is a need for the development and implementation of suitable interventions to prevent and manage co-occurring depression and obesity among older adults, particularly older adults with arthritis, hypertension, diabetes, or of African American ethnicity.

KEYWORDS:

• Depression
• obesity
• prevalence
• older adults

Acknowledgments

Drs. Sims and Melton contributed equally as co-first authors.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.