Obesity & Depression are Common Comorbid Diseases

Incidences of obesity and depression are immensely on the rise throughout the world. Researchers and scientists are constantly at work trying to establish the link between obesity and depression and it appears as though it is a cyclical process with one leading to the other — overeating leading to obesity and triggering depression and depression causing one to overeat and become obese.

Scientists have been following a two-pronged approach in exploring, researching the connection between obesity and depression:

• The first approach analyses the psychosocial causes of depression in obese people.
• The second deals with the genetic and neuro-chemical causes that relate obesity to depression.

Psychosocial Links between Obesity and Depression

Obesity has a highly dissatisfying, frustrating effect on human psyche. Obese people, especially young women suffer from image complexities and this affects their mental well being. Their mental distress gives rise to depression and a sense of low self-esteem; they even feel rejected, unattractive and undesirable. Consequently, they shun society. (A study showed that obese teens usually grew up as unsuccessful adults, dull/uninterested in their studies, earning far less than their fit and healthy counterparts, with most deciding to remain single). This preference for isolation, loneliness over camaraderie has as much to do with one's own emotional complexities as with society's disapproval and the misconceptions widespread in the society.

The society at large behaves in a rather pitiless manner in their dealings with flabby, obese people. Overweight people are often the butt of ridicule and they are mostly portrayed as lazy and stupid. This negative attitude of the society wreaks havoc. An individual who has been humiliated, scorned for being fat roughly from childhood becomes a human wreck by the time he/she grows into an adult. Fat people complain of being mistreated even by the medical community (whereon rests all their hopes of leading a healthy, normal life). Obesity, in fact, carries an undeserved social stigma and most fat people look in on their condition as the worst, hopeless of all medical conditions.

This negative attitude, this prejudice towards the flabby people is more prevalent in the upper echelons of the society. A study on obesity showed that children (as young as 7 years of age) coming from high socioeconomic class reacted negatively towards heaviness. Rising numbers of depression cases in the upper section of the society are a clear indication of the close connection between obesity and depression.

Dieting and the effects of poor physical health on mood have also been studied as part of psychological studies. Scientists have opined that it is not obesity as such, rather the low-calorie obesity diet plans that play an adverse role in triggering depression. Actually, the deficiency involved in low-calorie diets and the fear of failing to stick with the diet are known to lead to depression.

Obese people, usually younger groups, suffer from severe health risks like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, etc. They are also known to lead a rather sedentary life. Fitness being associated with physical and mental vigor, limited cerebral and physical functioning dampens ones self-confidence and leads to depression.

Genetic and Neuro-chemical Links between Obesity and Depression

The genetic link between obesity and depression has been established via an unusual study. Scientists studying obese mice successfully separated an abnormal gene, which they identified as 'ob'. The particular gene was lacking in Leptin, a hormone produced by fat cells known to suppress appetite. Supplementation of Leptin led to loss of weight. Although Leptin does not work precisely in the same manner, a slightly different variation of the 'ob' gene has been related to human anxiety and depression. Researchers, in fact, are of the opinion that the gene activates a neurotransmitter (a brain chemical) that controls ones craving for food as well as body's metabolic mechanism (side-by-side transmitting nerve impulses).

The much-studied 'Serotonin connection' is another factor linking obesity and depression. Flabby people are given to eating carbohydrate-rich foods, which they consume at the cost of protein-rich foods. Nearly two-thirds of all obese people are carbohydrate cravers, preferring heavy, carbohydrate-rich snacks to healthy meals.

Obese carbohydrate cravers are also known to suffer from high-degree depression. Research results have established that carbohydrate intake stimulates the secretion of insulin, which accelerates the absorption of the amino acid Tryptophan by the central nervous system. Here Tryptophan is converted into Serotonin that regulates mood. Carbohydrate cravers are said to have a faulty Serotonin feedback mechanism, which fails to inform the body to stop carbohydrate intake. Naturally, the desire for carbohydrate persists and the person feels discontented, depressed. This appears an apposite explanation as to why obese people gorge on carbohydrate-rich foods even after knowing they will gain weight from this wrong food habit. On being asked, obese carbohydrate cravers have revealed that this craving has nothing to do with either hunger or taste, but has some connection with their anxiety.

How To Overpower The Twin Forces Of Obesity And Depression?

The link between obesity and depression is yet to be thoroughly investigated, researched. Until then, you can adopt these safe means to overpower the twin forces of obesity and depression:

• The first step to getting over obesity and depression is to opt for a healthy eating and exercise regimen. Bring about a change in your attitude towards food — eat to stay healthy. Thus, you will require dumping your low-calorie diet for a protein-rich food intake. Take 2 liters of water a day; have fresh fruits and vegetables. Fish will obviously be the better choice, but if you must have meat then go for lean cuts. You can also include low-fat dairy products. As said, exercise is a must. Walking is perhaps the best exercise, but a little more exertion, some involvement with physical activities will do you good. Remember not to make abrupt changes, as that may be too risky. Over-exertion is certainly a no-no, so make gradual adjustments to your habits.
   
• Battling obesity and depression on ones own might appear an uphill task. However, the task becomes easy when you have a little help in the form of helpful friends and support systems. You can seek professional help to deal with your obesity and depression. Many voluntary organizations (usually groups of people suffering from obesity related depression or depression related obesity) also offer you ready help.
   
• The most important, however, is your mental health and your desire to improve your physical condition. If you suffer from chronic depression, it is nearly impossible to have the energy or aspiration to lose weight. In addition, many antidepressants and weight gain are very common.
   

My depression benefited from vagus nerve stimulation therapy. Although I was never obese, I was overweight, out-of-shape and just didn’t care about myself. The benefits of the VNS Therapy^TM accrued gradually. But as I began to feel better, I started to have the energy to exercise, then developed an exercise program and began to eat healthier. Eventually, I really cared about the way I looked, how much I weighed and how I dressed. I lost four inches off my waist and over thirty-five pounds.

Scientists now understand the link between depression and obesity, Type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease and high cholesterol. This is further evidence of the mind/body connection. When the mind gets better, the whole body gets healthier.