Objective: 

This study aims to investigate the associations among depression, anxiety, aerobic exercise capacity, body fat percentage, sum of skinfolds, abdomen circumference, and waist to hip ratio on the basis of body mass index (BMI) in adults.

Methods: 

The subjects of the study were 60 obese participants (30 women, 30 men) with BMIs over 30 kg/m2 and 60 healthy controls (30 women, 30 men) with BMIs of 18–25 kg/m2. Body fat percentage was calculated from the skinfold thickness using the formula. Body circumference measurements were performed using a tape measure. Maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max) was determined by Astrand submaximal exercise protocol. Two self-reported questionnaires, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), were administered to all participants.

Results: 

BMI, body fat percentage, sum of skinfolds, abdomen circumference, and waist to hip ratio were found to be higher in obese groups as compared to the controls, while VO2max (ml/kg/min) values were lower in both genders. In males, BAI scores and mild-level anxiety percentage values were higher in the obese group than in the control group. There was no significant difference for BDI scores and levels between the obese and control groups in both genders. There was also no significant difference in BAI scores and levels between the obese and control groups in women.

Conclusions: 

The fact that physical fitness is found to be poor in obese individuals shows the existence of a condition that might constitute an increased tendency for obesity-related disorders. In addition, it was suggested that, in Turkey, attitudes toward obesity change depending on gender.