BEIJING, July 5 (Xinhuanet) -- A U.S. study has found that obesity was linked with a 25 percent increase in odds of developing psychiatric disorders, such as depression, bipolar disorder and panic disorder.

    The study, published in the Archives of General Psychiatry's July issue, of more than 9,000 adults found that mood and anxiety disorders including depression were about 25 percent more common in the obese people studied than in the non-obese.

    It also found that there were no significant differences between the sexes, but the relationship between obesity and mental illness was strongest in people with more education and higher incomes.

    While obesity has for some time been linked to many physical problems including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and arthritis, there has been less research to date on its psychiatric consequences.

    The study is the first major study to look at an association with psychiatric consequences.

    Asked whether depression leads to obesity or the other way round, Dr. Greg Simon, lead author, said, "It's almost certain that the association works in both directions. Understanding the connection between obesity and depression is an important public health issue because both of these conditions are so common and have a significant impact on our health care systems." Enditem