Body mass index and depression are recognized to occur together. BMI has a direct connection to obesity, which can induce depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. However, BMI does not distinguish between muscle and fat, nor does it indicate how much fat in specific areas of the body can contribute to mental health disorders.

As per a recent study conducted by Wenjun Gu, Kunming Bao, Xiaoming Li, Shaohang Xiang, Junhao He, Jinning He, Lixin Ye, and Zhidong Huang and published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, the distribution of body fat influences our mental well-being. The research also noted that the association between body fat and depression was more evident in men.

Findings of the study:

The research was carried out by examining information from 10,694 adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The individuals were required to undergo comprehensive scans of their bodies to assess fat, muscle, and bone. These scans yielded precise measurements of body fat in eight different areas of the body - the legs, arms, trunk, head, android (abdominal), gynoid (hips and thighs), subtotal (excluding the head), and total body.

To assess depressive symptoms, the participants were requested to complete a questionnaire. They were additionally asked about their lifestyle habits, socioeconomic status, medical conditions, and biological markers to comprehend the correlation.

The findings were surprising. Individuals with greater total body fat exhibited a higher likelihood of displaying depressive symptoms. Those with increased body fat in the legs, gynoid region, and subtotal area faced a greater risk of depression. Even for individuals with a higher percentage of body fat in the head, there was a slight risk of developing depressive symptoms.

Body fat, depression and gender:

The authors of the study also observed that the link between body fat and depression was more pronounced in men compared to women. This additionally indicated that the influence of body fat on mood may function differently across various biological sexes.

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