Background: Global public health issues including depression and obesity are major. Depression is the biggest cause of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost worldwide, impacting 264 million people, according to the WHO. The aim of study is to examine the relationship between obesity and depression in the adult population.

Method: A cross-sectional study conducted in Wasit governorate from April to November 2023 included 324 participants aged 18-70. Data collected through an online questionnaire covered demographics, depression levels assessed with PHQ-9, and BMI calculated from height and weight. Participants were categorized by BMI (underweight, normal, overweight, obese) and socioeconomic status using crowding index.

Results: A study of 324 patients (59.3% female) with a mean age of 34.3 years found that the majority (62%) were aged 26-45, 64.5% were married, and 61.4% had children. Most participants (84.3%) had a college or higher education, and 46.6% had good monthly income. Chronic diseases, chronic drug use, and chronic psychiatric illness were reported by 22.5%, 29%, and 4.9% of patients, respectively. About 38.3% were overweight, 28.3% were obese, and 69.4% had a crowding index of 2 or less. The study revealed significant associations between depression and gender, chronic psychiatric illness, but not with obesity.

Conclusion: Research found significant links between depression and gender (69% of severe cases were female), chronic psychiatric illness. Other factors, including BMI, age, marital status, education, occupation, income, chronic illness, medication use, and crowding index, showed no significant association with depression.