Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Volume 69, Issue 6 , Pages 573-581 , December 2010

The association between obesity, depression, and educational attainment in women: The mediating role of body image dissatisfaction

  • Amelia R. Gavin

      Affiliations

    • School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. School of Social Work, University of Washington, 4101 15th Avenue NE, Seattle, WA 98105-6299, USA. Tel.: +1 206 616 8847.
  • ,
  • Greg E. Simon

      Affiliations

    • Group Health Cooperative, Seattle, WA, USA
  • ,
  • Evette J. Ludman

      Affiliations

    • Group Health Cooperative, Seattle, WA, USA

Received 18 October 2009 ,Revised 4 May 2010 ,Accepted 6 May 2010.

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PII: S0022-3999(10)00216-3

doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2010.05.001

Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Volume 69, Issue 6 , Pages 573-581 , December 2010