Sex differences in the relationship between whole-body and region-specific fat mass indices and anxiety symptoms in South Korean adults.

BACKGROUND

Although a relationship between body fat and mental health problems has been established, sex-based differences in this association remain insufficiently understood.

AIMS: To investigate the association of whole-body and regional fat mass indices with anxiety symptoms in men and women.

METHOD: A nationwide sample of 3856 men and 5010 women was analysed. Fat mass of the whole body, trunk, arm and leg was measured using a bioelectrical impedance analyser, and fat mass indices (kg/m2) were derived by dividing fat mass by height squared. Symptoms of anxiety were determined using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7. Logistic regressions were used to investigate the association of each fat mass index with anxiety symptoms. Sex-stratified analyses were conducted to assess sex-related differences.

RESULTS

The prevalence of anxiety symptoms was 3.3% among men and 5.5% among women. Among female participants, a one-standard deviation increase in whole-body, trunk, arm or leg fat mass index was associated with 1.20-fold (95% CI: 1.04-1.39), 1.21-fold (95% CI: 1.04-1.41), 1.19-fold (95% CI: 1.04-1.35) and 1.19-fold (95% CI: 1.03-1.38) increases in odds of anxiety symptoms, respectively. By contrast, no clear association was observed between fat mass indices and anxiety symptoms in men.

CONCLUSIONS

Our analysis demonstrated sex differences in the relationship between body fat and anxiety, with high whole-body and regional fat mass indices positively associated with anxiety symptoms in women.