Association Between Unhealthy Weight Loss Behaviors and Depressive Symptom Severity Among Women in the U.S: A Cross Sectional Analysis of NHANES 2013- 2018 Mikala Snider* Project Mentor(s): David L Gee, PhD; Katy Williams, MS, RDN, CSSD, CDCES; Cristina Bistricean, PhD Background: Conventional weight management prioritizes reducing BMI, yet the psychological impact of the behaviors used to achieve weight loss remain underexamined. This study investigates the association between unhealthy weight loss methods and depressive symptoms among young adult women in the U.S. Methods: A secondary analysis of NHANES 2013-2018 data was conducted on 960 women (aged 20–39) who attempted to lose weight in the previous year. Behaviors were categorized by unhealthy methods used (0, 1, 2+) frequently associated with disordered eating and nutrient deficiencies. Depression was defined as a Patient Health Questionnaire-9(PHQ- 9) score of ≥ 10. Results: Overall, depression prevalence in this population was 11.2%. A significant dose response relationship was observed where depression prevalence rose 6.7% for those using zero unhealthy methods, 11.2% for those using one unhealthy method, to 15.1% for those using 2+ unhealthy methods ( p = 0.018). A logistic regression model adjusted for age, race, education, BMI, and income showed women using 2+ unhealthy methods had 2.34 times higher odds of depression (95% CI: 1.36-4.02) compared to those using none. Notably, BMI category was not a significant predictor of depression ( p = 0.183). Additionally, having less than a high school education significantly increased the odds of depressive symptoms (OR: 2.70; 95% CI: 1.07-6.84). Conclusion: Adoption of unhealthy weight loss methods were associated with significantly increased the odds of depression. Although observational studies cannot prove causation, these findings do support discouraging unhealthy weight loss methods in young women. Presentation Type: Pre-Recorded Presentation (https://www.youtube.com/@cwusource5518) Keywords: Weight loss, depression, mental health, disordered eating, United States SOURCE Form ID: 180
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