Psychiatric symptoms, substance use, and other medical conditions in patients with obesity who seek treatment for weight loss

Abstract

Introduction. Scaling in obesity classes increases its effect on medical comorbidities and psychiatric symptoms. Anxiety and depression have a significant effect on treatment adherence and weight loss.

Objective. This study had three aims: a) to evaluate the prevalence of psychiatric symptoms; b) to evaluate the interactions between obesity classes and demographic variables in relation to psychiatric symptoms; and c) to analyze the interactions between obesity classes, demographic variables, and psychiatric symptoms in association with medical comorbidities in a sample of obese individuals seeking treatment for weight loss.

Method. Medical record review of 22 weight loss clinics during January-December 2014. Binomial logistic regression was carried to assess univariate associations, second- and third-order interactions.

Results. Total sample was composed of 13,305 patients, mostly women (82.04%), married (53.66%), with elementary education (38.6%), mean body max index was 34.94 (SD = 4.39). The most prevalent psychiatric symptoms were anxiety (45.21%) and depression (16.36%). When analyzing interactions, it was found that men with class II obesity had higher odds for alcohol use (OR 1.56, IC 95% 1.10-2.22), and participants with obesity class III and married had more probability of diabetes II (OR 1.53, IC 95% 1.06-2.19).

Discussion and conclusion. Results show the complexity of the relation between demographic variables, psychiatric symptoms, medical comorbidities and obesity, underscoring the need to tailor treatments based in such variables, to promote adherence and weight loss.