The Relationships Between Body Weight, Appetite, Depression, and Anxiety: Findings from the Texas Youth Depression and Suicide Research Network (TX-YDSRN)

Youth obesity rates have been increasing along with rates of depression and suicidality in youth. Previous research has shown that obese youth have increased rates of depression compared to healthy-weight youth, but the factors associated with poorer outcomes remain uncertain. In this report, associations with variables related to depression, other mental health challenges, and physical health were considered between different weight categories. Obese youth had more severe depression than overweight youth and worse physical function compared to healthy and overweight youth. Perceived weight and appetite changes were generally associated with worse clinical symptoms, with appetite more consistently associated with poorer health. Overweight and obese youth were more likely to come from low-income households, suggesting that children from lower-income families may be at greater risk for weight gain.