Obesity, race and depression independently increase likelihood of chronic disease

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Wednesday, November 29, 2006 4:13 am Email this article
Being obese, Black or depressed all independently increase the likelihood of having a chronic disease according to a paper from University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Being all three created a "triple threat" for developing certain chronic diseases according to the paper. Obese, depressed Blacks are 12 times as likely to have hypertension, and 15 times as likely to have diabetes. Hypertension

Hypertension : 1.7 times as likely in overweight, 3.4 times in obese, 2.1 times in Blacks, 2.1 times in depressed

Hypertension was 1.7 times more common in overweight patients and 3.4 times more common among obese patients.

• 1.7 times as common in people who were overweight
• 3.4 times as likely in those who were obese
• 2.1 times as likely in Blacks
• 2.1 times as likely in those who were depressed

 

Elevated Cholesterol and Triglycerides

Elevated Cholesterol and Triglycerides : 1.9 times as likely in overweight, 2.3 times in obese, 0.9 times in Blacks, 1.6 times in depressed

Elevated cholesterol and/or triglycerides were:

• 1.9 times as common in people who were overweight
• 2.3 times as likely in those who were obese
• 0.9 times as likely in Blacks
• 1.6 times as likely in those who were depressed

 

Diabetes

Diabetes : 1.8 times as likely in overweight, 4.0 times in obese, 2.0 times in Blacks, 1.7 times in depressed

Elevated cholesterol and/or triglycerides were:

• 1.8 times as common in people who were overweight
• 4.0 times as likely in those who were obese
• 2.0 times as likely in Blacks
• 1.7 times as likely in those who were depressed

 

Obese, Depressed Blacks

Obese, depressed Blacks 12 times as likely to have hypertension, 15 times as likely to have diabetes,

Blacks who were both obese and depressed were:

• 12.2 times as likely to have hypertension
• 14.9 times as likely to have diabetes

Subjects : 8,197 patients data over 3 years

The study analyzed data from 8,197 primary-care patients seen at a family-medicine clinic over a 3-year period.

REFERENCE

Stecker T, Fortney J, Steffick D, Prajapati S. The triple threat for chronic disease: Obesity, race, and depression. Psychosomatics. 2006 Nov-Dec, 47(6):513-18.

AUTHOR’S CONTACT INFORMATION

Tracy Stecker, PhD
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
VA HRS&D CeMHOR (152/NLR)
2200 Fort Roots Drive
North Little Rock, AR 72114
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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