Obesity and Depression Feed Off Each Other

If you’re overweight, odds are you don’t feel that good about yourself. And most likely if you’re depressed, you’re a wreck too.

A lot of people use food as a drug; junk food is an awesome cure-all.

So it should be no surprise that researchers found a link between depression and obesity – and vise-versa.

Published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, scientists found a “bidirectional” association; meaning obese people had a 55% risk of developing depression, and depressed individuals were 58% more likely to become obese.

Other then the obvious – feeling bad and eating too much – the scientists attribute inflammatory effects of obesity to depression, social pressure to be thin, and the chemical effects of depression and depression medication may interfere with the endocrine system.

So the researchers suggest doctors monitor depressed people’s weight and obese individuals mood.

Via HealthDay News.

Image credit: Babble.com