The Relationship between Body Mass Index, Depression and Age in Individuals Referring to the Health Center in Norabad Delfan City in 2013

Today obesity and depression are two important diseases which are growing all over the world and threat the human health. That how much these two affect each other is a major health question. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI), depression, and age among referring to health Center in Norabad Delfan City in 2013. This was a descriptive- correlational study conducted on 390 referring to the health Center in Norabad Delfan City in 2013, who were selected through stratified sampling, Based on their body mass index (BMI) individuals were classified as normal weight, overweight and obese. In addition, age groups were classified as Group 1 (ages 18 – 30), Group 2 (ages 31 - 50), and Group 3 (ages > 50). The data were collected by beck depression standard inventory; self constructed questionnaires of demographic characteristic. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and coefficient Pearson's correlation. BMI was positively correlated with depression (r =./39, p <. 001), and age was negatively correlated with depression (r = -.347, p <. 001). Finally, a one-way ANOVA revealed younger individuals scored higher on the BDI-II across all weight groups (F(2, 139) = 8.456; p <. 05). The present study showed that overweight and obesity leads to increases depression. All organization who have health affairs need to consider the correlation between life style and mental health as part of mental health plans for the society in order to present the complication of depression and obesity.