Depression is one of the most common medical subjects in conversations, both in person and online. The reason is simple – it is quite widespread. While a severe issue on its own, one of the biggest downsides of this condition is that it is easily tied to various other health problems. What most people do not know, and are not even aware of is that depression is closely tied to weight gain. The latter can cause other issues depending on how much you stray from your healthy weight.
Because of this, it is important to understand the correlation between these two medical issues. Yes, gaining weight is also seen as a severe health issue as it can cause severe complications to one’s health. Did you know this? Probably not. In case you did, you wouldn’t find this article so interesting. That’s right, we also find this subject interesting.
So, let’s make a joint attempt in understanding the connection between depression and weight gain. The link between the two conditions is rather complex, so we want you to pay attention. Sometimes when you think that you’re gaining weight due to bad eating habits, or lack of exercise, you might be right. Or, is there something else there lurking? Let’s see.
What’s The Link?
These two are quite easy to tie together. It is all about our environment. Social life matters too. Tie it both with our biological predispositions and you get a simple equation. If you know someone who had a rough childhood and is fighting financially at the moment, you should know that they are at a high risk of being depressed and gaining weight as a result.
As you can see, our environment plays a vital role. Not eating healthy doesn’t only affect our bodies, it also leaves a mark on our mental health. When you’re in a financial pinch it is hard to get your hands on good food. See, how it’s all tied together?
Source: psychcentral.com
The equation is simple, and we already said it. Being depressed is sometimes a case of not being able to lead a normal life and take care of your finances, and this can lead to obesity. Furthermore, even if you haven’t encountered depression yet, being both financially insecure and obese will easily lead to it. Depression and weight gain are closely related, and in a higher percentage than one would believe.
While there is a clear connection, we can’t yet say which one is the older brother. Does obesity lead to depression, or is it the other way around? Most scientists remain on the same page here. It would seem that this river flows both ways. It is too simple to say that one gets depressed, stops exercising and eating healthy and obesity appears right away.
Yes, this is one of the ways it can happen, but that would be putting it too simply. To put it in a more acceptable context, it is important to say that depression works in one interesting way. It makes you unwilling to participate in activities that you used to find enjoyable.
Once you strip your mind and body of pleasuring activities, you are easily tempted to seek their replacements. So, in no time you could find yourself avoiding working out, or reading, but enjoying simple traits such as candy or even overeating. Soon enough, many of your healthy habits are going to be replaced with bad ones, in most cases tied to food, and simple pleasures.
Once you start realizing what you’re doing it will be too late. Upon realizing the truth around you, you’re more likely to react by being more under stress rather than taking positive action. When you add the stress to the equation your body will be under more pressure, as all of these things combined affect your cortisol levels, which are closely tied to both obesity and your insulin levels. As we said, it is all too well tied in a knot consisting of your social, biological, and environmental issues.
Breaking The Link
Source: youtube.com
Of course, the best way to address this issue is to find the connection, which is quite obvious, if you’d agree with us, and tore it apart. This is never an easy thing to do. As we already said, there are a lot of factors at play here. Breaking the link is all about taking one of the factors out of the equation.
One of the things you can do is by trying to eliminate stress. This is never an easy thing to do, but you can try it. Knowing that you’re depressed and that it led to depression, or another way around is essential here. There is no need to be upset over it, but taking action is vital here. So, you can always lower stress levels by trying to eat healthily and work out.
This is easier said than done. Taking action from this point of view is desirable but not always possible. This would take a lot of mental strength. Not all of us can do what’s needed. Yes, taking the high road would be ideal, but we’re not all made out of the same cloth.
Sometimes, even giving your best won’t lead to desirable results and you’ll find yourself in a worse condition than you were when you realized something is wrong. Working on both your body and mind can take a tool, and the results are not guaranteed.
For most of us, it would be easier to cope with the mental side of the problem later on and handle the weight issues first. But, that’s not possible directly and solely on your own. Luckily there are solutions. Medicine has advanced enough and today you can attack your weight issues medically. In the end, the decision is yours.
You can try to work on your mental health first and follow it up with weight loss, or you can try a shortcut and address your weight through bariatric surgery. Either way, once you understand that your weight gain is tied to your depression, action is all you need. Take it!
Source: mooditude.app
