Sharkey Joseph R, Ory Marcia G, Wang Suojin
Texas Healthy Aging Research Network (TxHAN) Center, College Station, Texas 77843-1266, USA.
J Nutr Elder. 2006;26(1-2):123-30. doi: 10.1300/J052v26n01_07.
Obesity, depression, and diabetes, all of which are increasing in prevalence among older women, represent a growing public health problem.
To determine the relationship of severe obesity and depressive symptomatology to perceived burden of diabetes.
Baseline data of 266 homebound older women were used to cross-sectionally examine the relationship of depression and severe obesity with an individual's perception of the burden of diabetes on daily activities.
The coexistence of depression and severe obesity was independently associated with increased burden of diabetes while depression or severe obesity individually was not.
Older adults who are severely obese with depressive symptoms may be at particularly high risk for adverse outcomes, and represent a growing public health concern with diabetes management or complications.
