Involuntary Weight Loss and Late-Life Depression in Korean Older Adults

Youngyun Jin; Jinkyung Cho; Inhwan Lee; Soohyun Park; Donghyun Kim; Jiyoung Kong; Hyunsik Kang

Involuntary Weight Loss and Late-Life Depression in Korean Older Adults

Iran J Public Health. 2020 Apr;49(4):637-644.

Authors

Youngyun Jin¹, Jinkyung Cho¹, Inhwan Lee¹, Soohyun Park¹, Donghyun Kim¹, Jiyoung Kong¹, Hyunsik Kang¹

Affiliation

¹ College of Sport Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea.

PMID: 32548043
PMCID: PMC7283192

Abstract

Background: To investigate the association between involuntary weight loss (IWL) and late-life depression (LLD) in a population-based cohort study.

Methods: Data (N=6945) obtained from the 2008 baseline and 2011 follow-up assessments of the Living Profiles of Older People Survey in Korea were used. Changed body weight between the 2008 and 2011 was classified into stable weight (<-5% ∼ <+5%), lightweight loss (≥ -5% ∼ <-10%), moderate weight loss (≥ -10%), lightweight gain (+≥5 ∼ <+10%), and moderate weight gain (≥+10%).

Results: Compared to the stable weight group, the moderate weight loss group had a higher risk of LLD (odds ratio=1.99, 95% confidence interval=1.61-2.46, P<0.001) even after adjustments for covariates, including age, BMI, education, income, life of solitude, smoking, physical activity, dependent aging, comorbidity, and cognitive function.

Conclusion: IWL is significantly associated with LLD in Korean older adults, implying the prognostic importance of IWL for presenting mental health issues later in life.

Keywords: Covariates; Involuntary weight loss; Mental health; Older adult.