Abstract

Background: The number of overweight and obese young people has grown dramatically, and so have mental health problems. Researchers still don't know much about the two-way link between obesity and psychological hardiness, especially when looking at long-term trends. 
Objective: Over the course of six months, we wanted to look at the two-way relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and psychological resilience in young people aged 18 to 25. 
Methods: ongoing study using a mix of methods with 450 college students. Standardized methods were used to measure BMI. The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-25) and other tests, such as the GAD-7 and PHQ-9, were used to measure psychological resilience. Cross-lagged panel analysis looked at links that go both ways while taking into account factors like demographics and behavior. 
Key Findings: There is a strong negative link (r = -0.342, p < 0.001) between BMI and psychological hardiness. Longitudinal analysis showed two-way links: a higher starting BMI predicted less resilience at 6 months (β = -0.187, p < 0.01), and a higher starting resilience predicted less BMI growth (β = -0.164, p < 0.05). These connections were weakened by physical activity and socioeconomic position. 
Conclusions: This is the first long-term study to show that the link between obesity and resilience goes both ways. It supports mind-body interventions for young people. The results have implications for prevention programs that aim to improve both physical and mental health at the same time.