Examination of Weight Change as a Symptom of Depression in Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Weight change is one of nine key symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder in adolescents, as outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Several studies, however, examining the symptomology of depression in this age group have found mixed support for weight change as at true symptom of the disorder. Furthermore, researchers have used a variety of methods to measure weight change, including self-report, parental-report, and direct observation. This study looks at the relation of three variables to depression: actual weight change, self-reported weight change, and body dissatisfaction. Two waves of data were collected from middle and high school students. Results suggest that neither actual nor self-reported weight change are associated with change in depressive affect. Only body dissatisfaction was found to predict prospective change in depressed mood. Suggestions for furthering the understanding of the complex relation between weight change and depressive disorder are outlined.