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.