The aim of this thesis was to clarify which aspects of depression and anxiety are related to an increased metabolic risk, and which factors contribute to these associations. Taken together, our... Show moreThe aim of this thesis was to clarify which aspects of depression and anxiety are related to an increased metabolic risk, and which factors contribute to these associations. Taken together, our findings indicate that people with more severe symptoms of depression and anxiety are at particular risk of progressive dyslipidemia and (abdominal) obesity. The higher rates of smoking and systemic inflammation among people with depression or anxiety partially accounted for their adverse metabolic profile. Dysregulations of the autonomic nervous system partly explained why users of tricyclic antidepressants displayed an increased risk of dyslipidemia and (abdominal) obesity as well, and also of hypertension. These important findings shed light on useful avenues for future research, and on preventive and therapeutic insights and directions. Show less
