Examination Of The Relationship Between Depression and Body Mass Index (BMI) Among University Students

Objective: The objective of this study is to examine the level of depression of university students and evaluating its relationship with Body Mass Index (BMI). Methods: In this correlation study, a questionnaire with 18 questions (age, gender, department, meal consumption, cigarette-alcohol usage) questioning demographic information and eating habits. and "Beck Depression" inventory was conducted voluntarily to 800 undergraduate students studying at Istanbul Aydin University. Height, weight and waist circumstance were measured and calculated. SPSS 22.0 program was used for data analysis. Results: The gender ratio of the students in this study was 42,9% male and 57,1% was female. Students who have the average age 21,22 +/- 1,801 years, %7,0 are underweight in terms of BMI, 66.6% are normal, 23.9% are overweight and 2.5% are obese. The BMI ratios of the students show a statistically significant difference (p<0.05); male students are more overweight and more obese than female students. 53.1% of students have normal level of depression, 22.8% mild mood changes level, 10.5% have moderate level, 4.8% have severe depression and 1.7% extreme depression. Conclusion: University students' depression level is normal and there is no relationship between the BMI and depression levels. There was relationship between students' depression levels and age-height length, body weight and waist circumference measurements; depression levels increase as the students decrease in height; as the weight, BMI and waist circumference increases, depression levels slightly increase.