14 Apr 2025 • In an analysis involving 12,744 participants, researchers found a significant and nonlinear association between obesity and depressive symptoms—emerging prominently when BMI exceeds 23.22 kg/m²

The study further identified insulin resistance (IR) as a partial mediator, accounting for 54.13% of the effect of overweight/obesity on depressive symptoms.

These findings underscore the metabolic underpinnings of depression in the context of obesity and suggest that lifestyle factors such as regular exercise and smoking cessation could mitigate mental health risks in this population.

Source: BMC Psychiatry | Read Full Story