Associations between overweight, obesity, and mental health: a retrospective study among European adults aged 50.

Background: The comorbidities associated with overweight and obesity have been well researched and scientifically proven while their relationship to mental health is still not verified.

Methods: This study is aimed at investigating reciprocal associations between obesity and mental health, and is intended to further analyze possible long-term effects using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). In order to do that, waves 4 and 8, conducted in 2010 and 2019/20 of this survey, were analyzed in a cross-lagged panel approach including 16,184 adult Europeans (50+) using multiple linear regression analysis focusing on the Body Mass Index (BMI), depression status and quality of life (QoL).