Upward Spiral: Depression, Worry and Weight Gain

In the previous post I outlined the similarities between the mindset of a person who is depressed and the mindset of a chronic dieter. In this post I will continue to shed light on the mood and body weight connection.

Biologically there is a distinct discrepancy between what our bodies are designed for (hunting and gathering) and what our environment is like today. In other words, our stone-age genes are incompatible with our space-age environment.

Physical consequences of inactivity and overconsumption have flourished. Less obvious is how our change in lifestyle affects our mood and overall sense of happiness. Although I am using the term depression, I am referring to feelings of depression rather than a clinically depressed state. Depressed feelings, for the purpose of this series of blog posts, may include unhappiness, loneliness, worry, anxiety and others. Ultimately it is an overall sense of unease that prevents you from feeling good about yourself.

Why is ‘feeling good’ so critical to weight loss success?

In the most extreme case, stress, anxiety, worry, and feelings of inadequacy can lead to outright depression. Each of us has felt blue at one time or another but that is not to be confused with persisting and deepening sadness characterized by clinical depression. Much like the term pre-diabetes refers to a metabolic state that affects your health prior to meeting the clinical definition of diabetes, negative mood can affect your physical and mental health long before reaching clinical levels of depression or anxiety.

Much like obesity, the incidence of depression has increased substantially.

According to the World Health Organization, it is estimated that:

• by 2020 major depression will be the disease imposing the second greatest burden of ill health worldwide; close behind heart disease.

Further, 40 years ago depression primarily struck people in their 40s and 50s. Today, depression strikes people in their mid-20s. Worse, if you’ve experienced depression, odds are that it will come back and each time it comes back, the likelihood of it returning increases.

Is depression causing obesity or is obesity causing depression?

This is the question that I will explore in my next post. Anecdotal evidence suggests that feeling less than well ‘now’ leaves little ambition to eat well and be active in order to improve health for the future.

When we don’t feel well in the present moment we tend to seek comforting, rewarding or soothing behaviors that result in instant relief. Eating high calorie and highly satisfying foods certainly serve this function. As I’ve indicated before, the reason you emotionally eat is because it works… as does plunking ourselves on the couch for the evening.

Note: Approximately 50% of those suffering from Binge Eating Disorder also suffer from depression.

What do you think? Are depression or other mood disorders causing weight gain or is weight gain causing depression. Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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