The results of a study conducted in Hong Kong show that both obese women and obese men are less likely to suffer from depressive symptoms than normal-weight people. These results support the 'jolly fat' hypothesis, hitherto only applied to men, but which, as the results of the study show, also applies to elderly women. Perhaps Chinese culture and a positive attitude towards obesity protect against depressive symptoms.

Study of nearly 57,000 patients over 65 years of age, members of Elderly Health Centres between 1998 and 2000.