Using genetics to understand the causal influence of higher BMI on depression.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Depression is more common in obese than non-obese individuals, especially in women, but the causal relationship between obesity and depression is complex and uncertain. Previous studies have used genetic variants associated with BMI to provide evidence that higher body mass index (BMI) causes depression, but have not tested whether this relationship is driven by the metabolic consequences of BMI nor for differences between men and women.

Methods

We performed a Mendelian randomization study using 48 791 individuals with depression and 291 995 controls in the UK Biobank, to test for causal effects of higher BMI on depression (defined using self-report and Hospital Episode data). We used two genetic instruments, both representing higher BMI, but one with and one with

SUBMITTER: Tyrrell J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6659462 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature