Association between birth weight and the comorbidity of depressive symptoms and obesity

LIU Jingyao; CHEN Jing; YANG Yang; YANG Yihang; SHAN Rui; ZHANG Xiaorui; LIU Zheng

doi:10.11852/zgetbjzz2025-0388

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Chinese Journal of Child Health Care ›› 2025, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (10) : 1108-1113. DOI: 10.11852/zgetbjzz2025-0388

Pediatric Metabolic Diseases Column

Association between birth weight and the comorbidity of depressive symptoms and obesity

LIU Jingyao^1*, CHEN Jing^1*, YANG Yang¹, YANG Yihang¹, SHAN Rui¹, ZHANG Xiaorui², LIU Zheng¹

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Abstract

Objective To analyze the association between birth weight and the comorbidity of depressive symptoms and obesity, so as to provide scientific evidence for future personalized interventions targeting different risk groups. Methods Based on the China Family Panel Studies, 2 628 children and adolescents aged 10 - 17 years with complete data on depressive symptom, obesity, and birth weight in both the baseline survey (2012) and follow-up surveys (2016-2022) were included.Depressive symptoms were defined as a score of ≥17 on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale.Obesity in children and adolescents was determined by BMI Z-score criteria, while adult obesity was defined as BMI ≥ 28.0 kg/m².Comorbid depressive symptoms and obesity were defined as the presence of both depressive symptoms and obesity.Non-comorbid cases were further categorized into healthy (no depressive symptoms and not obese), depressive symptoms dominant (had depressive symptoms but not obese), and obesity dominant (obese but no depressive symptoms).Multinomial logistic regression models were used to analyze the associations between birth weight (both as a continuous and categorical variable) and the risk of comorbid depressive symptoms and obesity.Stratified analysis were conducted by age and gender. Results Among individuals with birth weight <3 kg, each 1-kg increase in birth weight was associated with a decreased risk of depressive symptoms dominant (OR＝0.561, 95%CI: 0.356 - 0.885).Compared with individuals with normal birth weight, individuals with low birth weight had an increased risk of depressive symptoms dominant (OR＝1.489, 95%CI: 1.068 - 2.075), while those with macrosomia had an increased risk of obesity dominant (OR＝1.823, 95%CI: 1.122 - 2.963). Conclusion Abnormal birth weight may be associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms, obesity, or comorbid depressive symptoms and obesity in children and adolescents, highlighting the potential significance of incorporating early-life factors into future interventions for comorbidity risk.

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birth weight / depressive symptoms / obesity / comorbidity / association

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LIU Jingyao, CHEN Jing, YANG Yang, YANG Yihang, SHAN Rui, ZHANG Xiaorui, LIU Zheng. Association between birth weight and the comorbidity of depressive symptoms and obesity[J]. Chinese Journal of Child Health Care. 2025, 33(10): 1108-1113 https://doi.org/10.11852/zgetbjzz2025-0388

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