Does Being Overweight Cause Depression?
Posted by Bizzero3 in DepressionThere is never one singular cause to depression but a poor diet has been shown to play a role in the development of depression and a good diet has been shown to lift depression. There are different opinions as to whether your weight makes you depressed or you gain weight because you are depressed. For instance, was the person depressed so they ate to calm their emotions, or did the depression appear after you were already overweight.
The WHO (World Health Organization) identifies depression as the number one cause of disability in the United States. People who are obese are often depressed and so are people having eating disorders.
Diet therapy for depression has been studied since the 1950’s. It has shown that your body and your brain need adequate vitamins and minerals to function. There is little evidence to support diet therapy alone, but there is much evidence that the depletion of certain nutrients are linked to depression.
There have been studies that implicate being overweight as leading to their depression, especially in women.
Some overweight individuals have low self esteem and self worth and use food to calm themselves in a vicious cycle.
Studies have not been able to prove one way or another that weight causes depression, or depression causes the weight gain. According to the Archives of General Psychiatry (2006), the depression and obesity link were equal for men and women.
Depression for some can increase their appetite. Depressed people do not have the energy to exercise. Being overweight or obese carries stigma and negative connotations leading to depression. In desperation people may tun to fad diets that promise to get the weight off quickly. Fad diets why are they bad is because they can contribute to depression.
Trying one diet after another (yoyo dieting) is bad for your system. You will be continuously disappointed because the weight will not stay off and this can lead to feelings of failure and depression.
If you believe your diet is connected to your depression, you can go to your doctor and have some blood tests to see what nutrients your body may be lacking. Your doctor can tell you if you need dietary supplements or not.
Dietary deficiencies are common in fad diets. Poor diets that some people eat regularly can contribute to depression. If you consider all the facts it seems like going on a proper diet would relieve your depression symptoms. Can a change in your diet lead to your depression cure?
A proper diet that would help you lose weight and keep the pounds off are what you need. There are many commercial diet plans out there to try, or you can simply count calories your self. Avoid diets that are less than 1200 calories or promise fast weight loss. Most people can lose weight on 1500 calore diet.
Om a 1500 calorie diet you will be able to feel satisfied. You can lose one to two pounds a week this way. It may take a little longer to lose the weight but it will be worth what you have learned about eating healthy, and the weight will stay off.
The dangers in fad diets involve fatigue, weakness, depression, dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Vitamin deficiencies found in improper diets include deficient B vitamins, Vitamin C, Zinc and Tryptophan to name a few.
To conquer your diet deficiencies you may need to see a dietician. or simply go on a healthy diet. A healthy diet includes a balance of grains, dairy products, protein, fruit, vegetables and fats. There are numerous nutritional books out there to help to lose weight with proper nutition. Start an exercise program to quick start your diet and stick with it at least 3 times a week.
If dietary deficiency is the link to you depression and you have implemented a healthy diet plan but still feel depressed. You need to seek appropriate professional help.
John Hubert is a researcher of Depression Cure. He recommends you check out the article on why are fad diets bad?
