Sex differences in the association between body mass index and recent suicide attempts in treatment-naïve young adults with major depressive disorder

Sex differences in the association between body mass index and recent suicide attempts in treatment-naïve young adults with major depressive disorder. Download PDF Abstract Although sex differences in suicidal behavior among young patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) are well documented, whether the association between elevated body mass index (BMI) and suicide attempts (SA) varies by sex remains inconclusive. This study examined, with stratification by sex, the associations of BMI with SA in the past 3 months and related factors in young patients with MDD, and further tested for a sex × BMI interaction.

A total of 520 patients with MDD aged 18–25 years were enrolled and underwent comprehensive biochemical assessments, including measurements of glycemic parameters, lipid profiles, and thyroid hormone levels. Psychiatric evaluations were conducted using standardized scales for depressive, anxiety, and psychotic symptoms. SA was defined as a suicide attempt occurring within the past 3 months.

Binary logistic regression was used for sex-stratified analyses, and a sex × overweight/obesity interaction was tested in the full-sample model. Among 520 young patients with MDD, the prevalence of overweight/obesity did not differ significantly by sex ( P > 0.05). Among males, SA was more prevalent in those without overweight/obesity than in those with it (24.5% vs.

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