A massive new study found that while being heavier or thinner than average at

A closer look at A massive new study found that while being heavier or thinner than average at

What this PsyPost article reports

This page summarizes a large study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders that linked body size in childhood and adulthood to later risk of depression and anxiety.

The research used 368,756 UK Biobank participants (aged 40 to 69 at recruitment), excluded those with prior depression or anxiety, and followed people for a median of just over 13 years to record new cases.

What the study actually found and how they measured it

Participants recalled whether they were thinner, average, or plumper at age 10 and researchers measured current Body Mass Index (BMI) to classify adult weight.

Deviations from average at age 10 were associated with higher later mental health risk; adult BMI showed a U-shaped relationship with the lowest depression risk near BMI 23-24. Becoming obese in adulthood carried especially high risks, and adult BMI explained a substantial part of the childhood-adult mental health links.

Importantly, participants who were plumper at age 10 but were normal weight as adults did not have a statistically significant increase in depression or anxiety risk compared with those who were average as children and normal as adults.

Who might find this article useful

People interested in the life-course links between body weight and mental health, clinicians and researchers who follow epidemiological findings, and readers wanting a concise summary of this specific study will find the write-up informative.

The article notes limitations such as reliance on decades-old recalled childhood body size, which introduces potential recall bias.

Questions people ask about A massive new study found that while being heavier or thinner than average at

Does the article claim childhood weight permanently sets mental health risk?

No - the study reported that reaching a normal adult weight appeared to erase the excess vulnerability linked to being heavier or thinner than average in childhood.

How did the researchers determine childhood and adult body size?

Childhood size was self-reported as thinner, average, or plumper at age 10; adult weight was measured and categorized using Body Mass Index.

Are there caveats to the study?

Yes - the authors acknowledge possible recall bias because participants reported childhood body size many decades later.

A massive new study found that while being heavier or thinner than average at was shared on NexURLs by NexURLs on November 7, 2026, in Health & Fitness.