If your waist is a large part of your height or wider than your hips, you’re more likely to have depression or anxiety — and this holds true for both men and women in this study.

People with more fat around their waist and hips, compared to overall body weight, are more likely to have symptoms of depression or anxiety, especially in middle-aged Taiwanese adults.

Even though belly fat seems to link more strongly to depression in men than women, the overall pattern is the same for both — meaning the connection isn’t unique to one sex.