A team of researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine determined that waist circumference may be a more significant predictor of depression risk than the traditional Body Mass Index (BMI). The study’s findings are highlighted with an emphasis on the Body Roundness Index (BRI), which specifically accounts for waist volume.
Analysis of data from over 200 thousand individuals demonstrated that people with a high BRI score have approximately a 30% greater risk of developing depression compared to participants with lower metrics. Investigators associate this with the quantity of visceral fat—the fatty tissue surrounding internal organs, which is estimated by waist circumference.
According to the work’s authors, visceral fat releases inflammatory molecules that affect brain function and the neurotransmitter system. This chronic inflammatory background, as the scientists surmise, might progressively contribute to the development of depressive states.
The researchers believe that measuring waist circumference and calculating the Body Roundness Index could assist clinicians in identifying individuals at heightened depression risk during early stages, allowing for timely recommendations regarding lifestyle changes or further assessment.
The authors stress that the relevance of BRI once again points to the need to combat abdominal obesity. Physicians globally are drawing attention to the fact that excess weight, especially around the midsection, elevates the likelihood not only of cardiovascular and metabolic ailments but also of mental health disorders.
About the Author
