Is Weight Status Related to Mental Health Status in Young Adult Females?

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between weight status and mental health status in young adult females given limited research regarding the relation between these variables in this target population. Methods: This cross-sectional analysis used 2016 BRFSS data for young adult females ages 18-34 from Alabama (N=636), Kentucky (N=751), Louisiana (N=303), and Mississippi (N=441). Ordered logistic regression was conducted separately by state to assess the relationship between mental health status and weight status while controlling for general health status, physical activity, sleep duration, substance use, income level, education, employment status, age, and ethnicity/race. Results: About half of young adult females reported low or moderate mental health status (43-54%) in the last month, and the majority reported being overweight (26-32%) or obese (29-38%). The results of this study indicated that mental health was not significantly related to weight status in 3 out of 4 states after controlling for health-related factors, substance use, socioeconomic factors, and demographic factors. However, mental health was positively related to general health status, and inversely related to sleep and age in all four states. Conclusion: Overall, in females ages 18-34, there was a moderate prevalence of low or moderate mental health status and a high prevalence of overweight or obese weight status, but mental health status was not significantly related to weight status. Therefore, primary care practitioners should screen all patients for both but treat separately. However, mental health was positively related to general health and inversely related to sleep duration and ages 18-24. As these are significantly related, primary care practitioners should screen for all and treat concurrently. Practitioners should educate patients on improving general health status and on the importance of getting six or more hours of sleep each night, and provide referrals as necessary.