International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-7802532014022625661EN20140226Background:Excess weight may be associated with mental <br />distress and this relationship varies according to the socio-cultural background of different populations. This study aims to assess the relationship of overweight and obesity with some psychological disorders in a nationally representative sample of Iranian adolescents.<br />Methods:This nationwide study was conducted in 2009-2010 <br />among 5570 students, aged 10-18 years, living in 27provinces in Iran. Data were collected by using the translated and validated questionnaire of the World Health Organization Global School-based Health Survey.<br />Results:Data of 5528 students (49.7% girls) were complete for this study. Their mean age was 14.7 (2.4) years. Overall 7.9% of participants were overweight and 8.8% were obese. 58.7% of students had anxiety, without significant association of overweight (odds ratio [OR]: 0.86, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.68-1.09) and obesity (OR: 1.11, 95% CI: 0.88-1.40) with an anxiety. Nearly 62.6% of students reported to have depression, there was no significant relationship between overweight (OR: 1.11, 95% CI: 0.86-1.43) obesity and (OR: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.79-1.29) with the depression. About 49.4% of students had insomnia, without significant association of overweight (OR: 1.17, 95% <br />CI:, 0.91-1.51) and obesity (OR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.71-1.17) with the insomnia.<br />Conclusions:In Iranian adolescents, excess weight did not increase the risk ofpsychological distress. This finding might be due to the positive attitude of family and peers to fatness in adolescence.<br />Keywords:Adolescents, anxiety, depression, Iran, obesity, <br />psychological disordershttp://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/1328http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/1328/1399