The Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health (SAGE): Depression and Body Composition Among Aging Populations
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Date
2014-06
Authors
Olson, William John
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
Chronic disorders affecting the mind and the body are particularly common
among older adults, presenting a major health challenge to healthcare providers around
the world. However, the effects of aging on chronic mental disorders remains poorly
characterized. The goal of the Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) is to
develop a more complete understanding of the process of aging and how it affects
health in general. The current study used Wave 1 data from SAGE, a longitudinal study
organized by the World Health Organization (WHO), which collects nationally
representative samples of older adults (>50 years old) in six middle income countries
(China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russian Federation, and South Africa), to examine
relationships among body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and
depression (with diagnosis based on a symptom-based algorithm). Previous research has documented complex associations between depression and body composition; i.n some studies, depression increases risk for being underweight, while in other studies it has
been linked to obesity. However, the links between depression and body composition
remain relatively unexplored among older adults and, additionally, no studies have
systematically examined this relationship in non-Western countries. Results indicate
substantial differences in depression prevalence by gender and country, ranging from
1.6% (men in China) to 22.9% (women in Mexico). Variation by gender and country
was also evident in prevalence of obesity (from 1.3% among Indian men to 51.0% in
South African women) and underweight (0.5% in Mexican women to 40.0% in Indian men). Multiple regression analyses were used with weighted population samples to
examine the relationship between body composition measures and depression
classification while controlling for key covariates such as age, smoking, drinking,
marital status, and income. Among older South African women, depression was
positively associated with BMI (p=0.003). Otherwise, the lack of a significant
relationship between depression and body composition variables in the individual
SAGE countries suggests that depression is not a major driver of body composition
among older adults.
Description
38 pages. A thesis presented to the Department of Biology and the Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for degree of Bachelor of Science, Spring 2014.
Keywords
SAGE, Depression, Body composition, Aging, International, Public health