Introduction
Obesity has been on the increase in the United States and many other Western countries (Herva, et al. 2006). Obesity brings about negative implications on the health of the individual since it is associated with conditions such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. It, therefore, reduces the quality of life and shortens the lifespan of the person. Depression is also a common public health problem in the US and it is associated with several somatic disabilities including cardiovascular diseases (Herva, et al. 2006). As such, depression also results in increased mortality and morbidity leading to a decrease in the quality of life for the individual. Because both obesity and depression negatively impact the health and life quality of a person, it would be significant to identify whether there is an association between obesity and depression. This paper will argue that there is a positive correlation between depression and obesity. The paper will make use of authoritative sources to reinforce this assertion and show that there is a link between depression and obesity.
Depression as it Relates to Obesity
Depression Causing Obesity
Depression may result in obesity due to some of the means of coping with the condition. As a measure for coping with stress, some people consume alcohol and/or eat unhealthy foods which are associated with an increase in weight. Teenagers who used alcohol were two times more likely to experience depression symptoms than their peers who did not use alcohol (Bazargan-Hejazi, et al., 2010). Alcohol is associated with an increased BMI since alcohol represents a significant source of calories (Pajari, 2010). In addition to this drinking stimulates eating especially in social settings where the drinking is taking place. Concerning unhealthy eating, while experiencing distress, research indicates that adolescents are inclined to overeat when depressed (Reyna & Farley, 2006). These findings are corroborated by Rooke and Thorsteinsson (2008) who assert that depression is a stronger risk factor for obesity in adolescents compared with adults.
While there are several causes of obesity, overindulgence in unhealthy foods and limited physical exercise are the major causes of the problem. Depressed individuals have a higher likelihood of becoming obese since they lack the motivation to take up healthy dietary habits or control their eating impulses resulting in excessive eating. Herva, et al. (2006) state that unhealthy dietary habits which are characterized by inadequate consumption of fruit and vegetables increase the prevalence of abdominal obesity in an individual. In addition to this, Rooke and Thorsteinsson (2008) suggest that individuals who are depressed are less likely to take up exercise regimes that promote physical health. Lack of exercise will affect the individual in two ways. To begin with, the individual will be predisposed to obesity since lack of exercise results in obesity. Also, lack of exercise will increase the risk of depression since regular physical activity is associated with the psychological well-being of a person since physical activity results in the secretion of endorphins which give a person a good feeling.
Another reason why depression may lead to obesity is the antidepressants used to control the condition. For people who suffer from severe depression, strong medications such as tricyclic are prescribed to help the individual cope. Herva, et al. (2006) state that there is an association between weight gain and the use of such antidepressants. This is because some anti-depressive drugs produce weight gain. The depressed person will therefore be predisposed to obesity as a result of the medication they are under.
Obesity Causing Depression
Obesity may result in depression due to the psychological abuse that the obese individual suffers. Wardle, et al. (2006) highlight the fact that obesity is a stigmatized condition that results in social exclusion as well as discrimination. This is because obese people are stereotyped as being lazy, unconfident, and emotionally unsound among many other negative characteristics. Children and adolescents are especially vulnerable to stigmatization as a result of obesity. Obese students often suffer from exclusion from peer group activities and often experience discriminatory actions from adults. This results in a high tendency by obese students to engage in unhealthy behavior and also exhibit loneliness and nervousness. These behaviors are not only negative to the child’s psychological well-being but also his/her academic performance leading to further psychological distress. Wardle et al (2006, p.642) state that in addition to the social stigma, obese adolescents “have a more negative view of their physique”. The damage that is suffered by the youth has consequences in their adult life. A study by Herva, et al. (2006) revealed that obesity in teenagers predicted depression in young adults. As such, obesity in an individual’s younger year increased the risk of depression for the person later on in life.
Obesity is a risk factor for the development of migraines which are linked to psychiatric disorders such as depression.
Research by Tietjen, et al. (2007) on the relationship between obesity and migraines found that depression was prevalent among the obese test group with 22% of the obese individuals having major depressive disorders. This was in contrast to 5% for the individuals with an average BMI. The study further indicated that worsening headache attacks which were associated with depression were associated with increasing BMI. This demonstrates the link between obesity with depression and anxiety.
The kind of food consumed affects the psychological well-being of an individual. Healthy and balanced foods result in good physical and mental health in the person. In their study on the association between food consumption and perceived stress in school children, Mikolajczyk, et al. (2009, p.1) reveal that “Dietary habits are a major aspect of people’s lifestyles that influence health, morbidity, and mortality for a range of conditions”. This research on food consumption frequency and perceived stress and depressive symptoms among students revealed that there was an association between the consumption of sweets/fast food and higher perceived stress levels (Mikolajczk, et al., 2009). These same fast foods which cause increased stress and depression are associated with the prevalence of obesity, especially among school-going youths.
Conclusion
This paper set out to demonstrate the relationship between depression and obesity. This paper has revealed that there is overwhelming evidence supporting the proposition that obesity and depressive symptoms are associated. From this paper, it has been shown that the effects of depression and weight gain may occur in a bi-directional manner where depression leads to weight gain and weight gain results in depression. It can therefore be authoritatively stated that the relationship between depression and obesity is apparent. By coping effectively with depression, the prevalence of obesity among our population can be mitigated.
References
Bazargan-Hejazi, S., et al. (2010). “Prevalence of Depression Symptoms among Adolescents Aged 12–17 Years in California and the Role of Overweight as a Risk Factor”. Ethnicity & Disease, Volume 20.
Herva, A. et al. (2006). “Obesity and Depression: Results from the Longitudinal Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort Study”. International Journal of Obesity, 30, 520–527.
Mikolajczk, R., et al. (2009) “Food Consumption Frequency and Perceived Stress and Depressive Symptoms among Students in Three European Countries”. Nutrition Journal 2009, 8:31.
Pajari, M., et al. (2010). “The Effect of Alcohol Consumption on Later Obesity in Early Adulthood – A Population-based Longitudinal Study”. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 45 (2): 173-179.
Reyna, V.F., & Farley, F. (2006). “Risk and Rationality in Adolescent Decision Making”. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 7, 144.
Rooke, S.E., & Thorsteinsson, B. E. (2008). “Examining the Temporal Relationship between Depression and Obesity: Meta-Analyses of Prospective Research”. Health Psychology Review Vol. 2, No. 1, 94-109.
Tietjen, G. E., et al. (2007). “Depression and Anxiety: Effect on the Migraine–Obesity Relationship”. Journal compilation, American Headache Society.
Wardle, J., et al. (2006). “Depression in Adolescent Obesity: Cultural Moderators of the Association between Obesity and Depressive Symptoms”. International Journal of Obesity, 30, 634–643.