Sometimes when we feel sad or stressed, we seek comfort in food, don't we? Maybe we eat something like a packet of chips or ice cream. Other times, we are so stressed that we can't even think about food. This is normal. But if this situation continues, that is, with a condition like clinical depression, it can have a big impact on your body weight, causing you to gain or lose a lot of weight.
What is the relationship between depression and body weight?
Simply put, both depression and weight gain can be influenced by social, environmental, and biological factors. Think about someone who has financial problems, or someone who has had a lot of problems since childhood. They are at higher risk of developing depression and obesity.
It's the same with the environment we live in. If all we have to eat is fast food and sugary drinks, and if fruit and vegetable stores are far away, it's hard to eat healthily, right? Environmental factors like these also affect this.
This relationship is like a knife that cuts both ways.
- People with depression are more likely to be obese.
- People who are obese are at higher risk of developing depression.
This is a question like asking, "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" Scientists are still working to understand the complex web of factors behind this relationship.
While it may seem simple, "When you're depressed, you don't feel like exercising, you eat more, and that's why you gain weight," the story is much more complex. While there is some truth to that story, it doesn't fully explain what's really happening.
Why is this happening? Let's take a deeper look.
Several changes that occur in our body and brain due to depression directly affect this.
Loss of pleasure and satisfaction - Anhedonia
One of the main symptoms of depression is the loss of pleasure and satisfaction from things that used to be enjoyable. In medicine, we call this 'anhedonia' . Simply put, the reward system in our brain is disrupted.
Imagine you are eating a delicious meal. The taste of the food is felt on the tongue, but the pleasure it gives is processed in the brain. So when this reward system is disrupted, the food does not give you the pleasure and satisfaction that you should get from it. What happens is that you start eating more and more to find that lost pleasure. This is like a food addiction, and you can have terrible cravings that you cannot control.
Impulse Control Problems
Studies have shown that depression can also reduce our ability to control our impulses. This can lead to eating disorders such as binge eating , which is eating too much food at once, and bulimia , which is purging.
The influence of hormones
The stress hormone 'Cortisol' in our body is also involved in this. Although initially stress causes a loss of appetite, prolonged stress causes this hormone to be secreted in excess, causing blood sugar levels to drop. This can lead to a strong craving for sweet and fatty foods. This condition is also linked to insulin resistance and obesity.
Sometimes, when depression is very severe, cognitive distortions can arise, such as "I don't deserve to eat." This can lead to the desire to intentionally avoid eating. This is a very important sign that the disease is at a serious stage.
| How depression affects weight | How excess weight affects depression |
|---|---|
| Appetite changes: Some people feel extremely hungry (especially for sweet/oily foods), while others experience a loss of appetite. | Low self-esteem: Feeling ashamed about one's body appearance, feeling depressed due to social isolation. |
| Loss of energy: Extreme fatigue caused by depression can lead to a loss of interest in exercising or being active. | Physical difficulties: Avoiding activity and becoming isolated due to things like joint pain and difficulty breathing caused by weight gain. |
| Sleep problems: Lack of good sleep disrupts the functioning of hormones that control weight. | Social pressure: Criticism and ostracism from others about weight increase stress. |
How to break this relationship?
The most important thing is to understand that there is no "one size fits all" solution to this. Your symptoms may be very different from someone else's. So the treatment plan needs to be tailored specifically to you.
The best and safest thing to do is to talk to your doctor about this. He or she knows you best and will be able to come up with a treatment plan that is best for you.
It is important to treat both depression and weight issues simultaneously, as the two clearly affect each other. A treatment plan typically focuses on the following:
- Good sleep: The first thing to check is whether you are getting enough sleep. It is very important to establish a sleep pattern. If necessary, the doctor may prescribe medication for this.
- Healthy Diet: It is essential to adopt a balanced, nutritious diet.
- Physical activity: " We're not saying run marathons , but some form of physical activity is essential," experts say. Even just going to work, going to school, or doing volunteer work can help with treatment. People who are active have much better treatment outcomes.
There is no overnight silver bullet for this, but with new research in this field, we can hope for better, evidence-based treatments in the future.
Take-Home Message
- There is a strong, reciprocal relationship between depression and body weight.
- Sadness can increase or decrease your appetite. This is due to chemical changes in the brain and hormonal influences, and is not your fault or weakness.
- There is no single solution to this. Treatment needs to be tailored to suit you.
- If you have these symptoms, don't suffer alone and definitely see a doctor for advice. That's the biggest help you can do for yourself.
- Good sleep, a healthy diet, and being as physically active as possible can bring great relief and strength to treatment.
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