A complex interplay between mental and physical health has garnered significant attention in healthcare. The study aims to explore the co-occurrence of depression and its clinical correlates amongst adult patients within a Baghdad teaching hospital's nutritional clinic. It delves into the prevalence of depression and investigates potential associations between its severity and various factors. These factors encompass body mass index categories, sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle behaviors, and clinical variables that might influence this connection.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was employed, 368 adults seeking weight management at a nutrition clinic completed surveys assessing demographics, health, and depression severity (PHQ-9). Anthropometric measures (BMI) and physical activity levels were also collected. Statistical analyses investigated relationships between depression and factors like BMI, demographics, activity, and clinical characteristics (comorbidities, medication use, and diet therapy duration).

Results: The study revealed a high prevalence of depression. Over half (49.2%) reported mild depression, with significant proportions experiencing moderate (29.3%) and severe depression (14.7%). Notably, depression severity correlated with younger age, female gender, unmarried status, higher education and socioeconomic status, unemployment, urban residence, obesity, lower physical activity, comorbidities, antidepressant use, and longer diet therapy duration. Logistic regression confirmed significant associations between elevated depression scores and factors including prolonged diet therapy, female sex, infrequent physical activity, antidepressant use, rural residence, obesity, unemployment, and higher education.