Losing childhood weight by adulthood might erase later depression risks
A massive new study shows that while being heavier or thinner than average in childhood is linked to mental health risks, reaching a normal weight by adulthood might erase that excess vulnerability to depression and anxiety.
Childhood weight, whether heavier or lighter than average, is linked to an increased risk of depression and anxiety later in life. However, reaching a normal weight by adulthood can help erase that vulnerability. A new study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders analyzes data from over 300,000 participants in the UK Biobank to understand the relationship between body size from childhood to adulthood and mental health risks.
While both childhood and adult weight are significant factors, adult weight status appears to be the dominant predictor of future mental health. Participants who went from being thinner as children to obese as adults faced the highest risks, with a 73 percent higher risk of depression and a 33 percent higher risk of anxiety compared to those who maintained a normal weight throughout their lives.
Conversely, those who were plumper in childhood but reached a normal weight in adulthood showed no significant increase in their risk for depression or anxiety, with their mental health risks comparable to those who maintained an average weight throughout their lives.
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