Depression and Weight.
Depression and weight changes often coexist. Most often mental disorders like depression and anxiety result in weight gain (obesity) while some people with depression suffer an unhealthy weight loss.
Both these conditions can have serious health complications when coexisting with depression. But it is for the treating doctor to decide how and which condition should be given preference of cure.
Depression and Weight Gain|Depression and Obesity.
Studies do indicate that people with mental disorders like depression have a higher tendency to become obese than people without depression. Similarly obese people are more likely to become depressed. Though the link connecting depression and obesity is strong, the association of direction however still remains unclear. This link between depression (or anxiety) and obesity is seen stronger in
- White people,
- Teen age girls,
- And in the affluent class which includes people with more education and income.
What Causes Obesity in Depression.
Which comes first – the depression or obesity.
There are clear causes as to why depression can cause obesity and similar reasons as to why obesity could result in depression. Increased appetite and physical inactivity are two symptoms of depression which can result in obesity. A depressed person in his effort to seek diversion from his mental state does indulge in binge drinking and binge eating. Similarly obese people are more likely to become depressed due to the social stigma and social criticism that obese people face. Antidepressants taken to treat depression too can cause changes in weight. Explained in antidepressants and weight.
A third factor which is also being held for this cause and effect relationship could be the chronic stress levels. There is extra secretion of cortisol (the stress hormone) during stress. Cortisol stimulates and promotes the storage of fat in the abdomen. This is done to make provision for additional energy which may be required during times of stress. Chronic stress as seen during depression does result in chronic secretion of cortisol leading to deposits of extra abdominal fat causing central obesity.
Studies have shown that the prevalence of obesity in the US population is 25% to30% while the prevalence of obesity among people with significant depression is about 50%.
These reasons and statistics show a clear indication that treating obesity for obesity alone may not be enough. There could be an underlying cause of depression which too has be treated.
Depression and Weight Loss.
As explained above, depression and anxiety can be associated with weight loss too. People with these mental disorders develop anorexia which is seen both in men and women with depression. People with depression develop loss of appetite and eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, which explains why weight loss is seen in depressed people. At times, the depression precedes the eating disorders.
Loss of pleasure in anything is the hallmark symptom of depression. This is especially seen in women.
Depression deprives the person from enjoying the pleasures of life which he or she once enjoyed. The depressed person loses interest in things including living life. This does result in losing appetite which results in losing weight.
Treating depression and weight problems is a time consuming affair and treatment has to treated as a long journey rather than a short affair. Treatment consists of medications and home remedies, both of which play an important role and consideration is given for both the problems with depression given the preference over the weight problem.
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