In Brief

Obesity and depression

Obese people are more likely than average to be clinically depressed and anxious, according to a national survey, but only when they are also white and college educated.

In the National Comorbidity Survey Replication, nearly 10,000 Americans were asked to state their height and weight. Obesity was defined as a BMI (body mass index) greater than 30 — the equivalent of 186 pounds in a person 5 feet 6 inches tall.