Obesity is a complex disease that is not caused by one single issue. Many things factor into the equation that leads an individual to gain weight to the point of threatening their health, such as the environment they grew up in, underlying medical conditions that prevent them from maintaining a healthy weight, or sedentary lifestyles. Whichever the reason may be, obesity has become a global problem that affects millions of people of varying ages.
Obesity affects everyone around the world with data suggesting that “the number of obese people in the world has tripled since 1975 to roughly 30% of the total population”[1], and this number continues to rise.
This disorder is one of the leading causes of death because it dramatically decreases a person’s life expectancy. Obesity puts people at higher risk for several diseases or illnesses, such as: diabetes, heart disease, certain types of cancer, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, strokes, and high blood pressure.
A recent focus point on which many medical researchers have turned their eye to is the link between obesity and mental health, and how one can impact the other.
At LIMARP®, we offer integral treatment programs that focus on the patient’s mental and physical well-being. Our team of doctors also include licensed psychologists that can help you understand and manage what you’re experiencing throughout your weight loss journey, as well as guide you through any circumstance that may be hindering your overall health. Depression has been identified as both a cause and consequence of obesity, and this article will focus on the intrinsicality of these conditions and how it affects the patient.
As always, we’d like to remind you that each case or circumstance is different, so it’s important you contact your doctor if you start experiencing any symptoms that can be linked to depression or other mental health issues. Your well-being, both mental and physical, is highly important to us and we pride ourselves in offering the best assistance possible so that you can reach your health goals and lead your ideal lifestyle.
To begin, we’d like to explore the link between obesity and mental health, or more specifically, depression.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, for short), 43% of people with obesity suffer from depression and that people, both adults and children, with depression can develop obesity due to different factors[2].
It’s important to point out that having one of these conditions doesn’t mean that you will develop the other, just that the risk percentage is significantly higher. This was proven by a 2010 study that found that people dealing with obesity have a 55% probability of developing depression than people who are not obese.[3]
Next, we’ll explain some of the factors that may increase the chances of depression if you have obesity and vice versa. Keep in mind that these are general factors and that each case may vary from patient to patient.
If you’re suffering or dealing with depression or other mental health issues, you may develop obesity due to the following factors:
- Many prescription antidepressants can cause weight gain and it can be heightened if the patient doesn’t partake in any kind of physical activity. We’re not suggesting that you should stop your treatment, but if the weight gain becomes unmanageable or it becomes a risk to your health, contact your doctor to seek alternative treatments.
- Depression or anxiety, when untreated, can hinder your productivity and motivation. This can lead to a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy choices that hinder your health and lead to obesity. Some of the symptoms that come with these mental health issues include: loss of interest in activities you enjoy, inability or reluctance to leave your house, irregular sleeping patterns, and fatigue.
- Lack of motivation and the inability to function can also lead to poor eating habits. The excess of accessible, high-processed foods can cause a person to develop obesity and other serious health conditions because these products do not contain the necessary nutrients a person needs to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
One could say that it’s easier to point out the reasons why you may develop obesity if you already have a diagnosed mental health condition, but as we’ve stated before, there may be other factors that only your doctor will be able to identify. If it’s not related to antidepressants, there may be other underlying health conditions, such as thyroid issues, that may be causing the weight gain.
If you’re already dealing with obesity, but haven’t presented any symptoms that may signal depression or other mental health conditions, you’re still at risk of developing one. Research has found that having one condition can increase the chances of developing the other, and there are also societal factors that come into play. This can lead to individuals with obesity to also struggle with issues related to their mood, self-esteem, quality of life, and body image.
A 2018 study[4] noted that “between 20% and 60% of persons with obesity, and extreme obesity in particular, suffer from a psychiatric illness”. This same study found that persons with extreme obesity are more likely to have experienced an episode of major depression compared with those of average weight. This seems to be stronger for women than men, perhaps because of society’s emphasis on thinness as a characteristic of female beauty.
Anxiety, another mental health condition, has also been shown to affect people with obesity, especially in social situations[5]. Mainstream standards that are perpetuated by social media, television, and movies have not been kind with people with obesity or to those who do not fit the norm. They’re either the punchline to cruel jokes, stigmatized by those around them, or completely shut off from certain activities due to their weight.
There are various societal factors that can lead to mental health issues for patients who are dealing with obesity[6], for example:
- Quality of life: People who are obese can face problems related to physical activity because of their size or other chronic ailments. When they’re unable to do the things they enjoy, like traveling or spending time with loved ones, they can experience social isolation, loneliness, and difficulty coping with life’s hardships. Chronic pain, which is often present with physical ailments, has also been linked to depression.
- Weight bias and discrimination: As we’ve mentioned before, society’s negative perspectives on obesity have a huge negative impact on those who are struggling with extra weight. Weight bias refers “to the stereotypes and attitudes that define people with obesity as unattractive, lazy, and undisciplined”. These misperceptions can be perpetuated within families and friends, among peers in the workplace, and in medical settings. This can lead to discriminatory behaviors that can affect a person’s self-esteem, their employment opportunities, and the quality of healthcare they receive. It’s been noted that many patients who are struggling with obesity are often told to “just lose weight” as an answer to any ailments or struggles they’re facing; while adopting a healthier diet can benefit many patients regardless of their weight, this type of commentaries tend to ignore any underlying medical problem that affect people with obesity.
- Poor body image: Weight bias and poor body image tend to go hand-in-hand because most of us internalize fatphobia or society’s stigma against obesity, which causes them to feel embarrassed about their weight and dissatisfied with their appearance. Fatphobia is “intrinsically linked to anti-blackness, racism, classism, misogyny, and many other systems of oppression”[7]. People who struggle with excess weight may also experience anxiety over being judged for how they look.
- Physiological issues: There are also obesity-related health factors that can negatively impact mental health. Research[8] suggests that excess body fat and poor eating habits “increase inflammatory markers”. This heightened inflammation can lead to a higher risk of developing depression and also plays a role in immune system health. Food plays a big role in our mental health because of the nutrients we absorb from it, some of them benefit our brain in ways that processed food does not.
Contact Us to Learn More
If you want more information on this topic or are in need of counseling, schedule an appointment with one of our doctors. We can help determine the right treatment for you. Contact us online anytime or give us a call at (619) 373-0229.
References
[1] “Most Obese Countries 2022”. https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/most-obese-countries. (Accessed July 30, 2022).
[2] Pratt LA, Brody DJ. Depression and obesity in the U.S. adult household population, 2005–2010. NCHS data brief, no 167. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2014.
[3] Luppino FS, de Wit LM, Bouvy PF, et al. Overweight, Obesity, and Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Longitudinal Studies. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2010;67(3):220–229. doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.2
[4] Sarwer DB, Polonsky HM. The Psychosocial Burden of Obesity. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2016 Sep;45(3):677-88. doi: 10.1016/j.ecl.2016.04.016. PMID: 27519139; PMCID: PMC6052856.
[5] Sarwer DB, Moore RH, Spitzer JC, et al. A pilot study investigating the efficacy of postoperative dietary counseling to improve outcomes after bariatric surgery. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2012;8(5):561–8.
[6] “How Excess Weight Impacts Our Mental and Emotional Health”. https://www.ncoa.org/article/how-excess-weight-impacts-our-mental-and-emotional-health. (Accessed July 30, 2022).
[7] “Fatphobia”. https://www.bmc.org/glossary-culture-transformation/fatphobia. (Accessed July 30, 2022).
[8] Richard C. Shelton, MD; Andrew H. Miller, MD. Inflammation in depression: is adiposity a cause? Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2011 Mar; 13(1): 41–53.