Abdominal volume index: a predictive measure in relationship between depression/anxiety and obesity

Afr Health Sci. 2020 Mar;20(1):257-265. doi: 10.4314/ahs.v20i1.31.

Abstract

Background: Obesity is a risk factor for mood disorder (such as depression and anxiety). We aimed to assess application of A Body Shape Index (ABSI) and abdominal volume index (AVI), as new indices of obesity to evaluate the relationship between obesity and depression/anxiety.

Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted on 307 overweight and obese women (249 females, 58 males) 20-60 years in Iran in 2017-2018. The anthropometric measures including weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, body fat and derived values of body mass index, waist-hip ratio, AVI and ABSI were evaluated. HADS questionnaire for depression and anxiety completed.

Results: Prevalence of depression was 36.1% in women; men 24.1%; overweight 28.1%; obese 36.5 % and central obesity 33.7%. Anxiety was apparent in 27.1% of overweight 30.3 % obese and 29.6% central obesity. People with depression and anxiety had higher WC, BF and AVI. ABSI had no significant correlation with depression/anxiety. The odds of depression (1.06; 95% CI, 1.02-1.12) and anxiety (1.06; 95% CI, 1.01-1.11) were elevated with increase AVI.

Conclusion: Our results suggested that AVI as an indirect measure of abdominal obesity along with WC and BF could be useful in predicting the relationship between obesity and depression/anxiety.

Keywords: Abdominal volume index; anxiety; depression.

MeSH terms

  • Abdomen / anatomy & histology*
  • Adult
  • Anthropometry / methods
  • Anxiety / epidemiology*
  • Body Mass Index
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Depression / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Iran / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity / diagnosis*
  • Obesity / epidemiology
  • Obesity / psychology
  • Waist Circumference
  • Waist-Hip Ratio
  • Young Adult