In women, a marker of fat around internal organs is linked to depression or anxiety, but not in men — suggesting men and women may have different biological links between belly fat and mood.

Scientific Claim

Visceral adiposity index is associated with psychiatric morbidity in women but not in men after multivariate adjustment, indicating sex-specific metabolic pathways may link abdominal fat to mental health outcomes.

Original Statement

“VAI... OR=1.014 (95% CI [0.995, 1.033]) for men (p=0.142) and OR=1.017 (95% CI [1.002, 1.032]) for women (p=0.027).”

From study:Abdominal Obesity Indices as Predictors of Psychiatric Morbidity in a Large-Scale Taiwanese Cohort

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

association

Can only show association/correlation

Assessment Explanation

The study correctly reports non-significance in men and significance in women with p-values and confidence intervals, avoiding overgeneralization.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (0)

No supporting evidence found

Contradicting (1)

Abdominal Obesity Indices as Predictors of Psychiatric Morbidity in a Large-Scale Taiwanese Cohort

Cross-Sectional Study

Human

2025 Dec 19

The study looked at whether belly fat measures like VAI affect mental health differently in men and women, and found no difference — so the claim that it only affects women is not supported.

Source Study

Abdominal Obesity Indices as Predictors of Psychiatric Morbidity in a Large-Scale Taiwanese Cohort

Score: 48

DOI: 10.3390/nu18010013

Similar Assertions

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.

90%

People with higher levels of fat-related blood markers (like triglycerides and sugar) are more likely to have depression or anxiety, hinting that metabolic health might be tied to mental health.

86%

A new way to measure belly shape — called the conicity index — is the best single sign among all body measurements to predict depression or anxiety in middle-aged Taiwanese men, and still a strong sign in women.

80%

Even after accounting for age, smoking, exercise, and other health problems, belly fat still links to depression and anxiety — meaning the connection isn’t just because of other health issues.

76%

How fat is shaped and spread around the belly — not just how big it is — is linked to depression and anxiety, even after accounting for other health factors.

75%