Weight change and appetite disturbance as symptoms of adolescent depression: Toward an integrative biopsychosocial model

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.] lists weight change and appetite disturbance as a single compound symptom of depression at all ages. Nonetheless, assessment of these symptoms is complicated during adolescence by normative increases in body weight and appetitive drive as well as heightened rates of body dissatisfaction, dieting, and eating disorders. This review outlines biological and psychological mechanisms that may change the relation of weight change and appetite disturbance to depression during adolescence. We propose a developmental model of the relation of these symptoms to the disorder and use the model as a framework to summarize findings, limitations, and future directions of research. Although the literature suggests that weight change and appetite disturbance are related to adolescent depression, preliminary evidence suggests that interpretation of weight and appetite symptoms may depend on developmental level.