Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsConnectionRisksManaging EachTreatmentBetter Snacking
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Connection
Risks
Managing Each
Treatment
Better Snacking
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Connection Between Obesity and Anxiety
For example:
Studies have shown that people who consume more sugary, fried, and processed foods are more likely to experience both anxiety and obesity, but this does not show that one causes the other, and there may be other variables.Everyone is different, and when anxiety and obesity happen together, there may be multiple things that contribute to the health concerns.
Risks of Having Anxiety and Obesity
Anxietyhas been found to be a risk factor for obesity, and obesity has been found to be a risk factor for anxiety.This means that having one can increase your chance of developing the other. The risks of anxiety and obesity are different for everyone.
Obesity may increase the risk of anxiety because of worries related to the effects it has on health or experiencingweight stigma. Anxiety may increase the risk of obesity when food is consumed as a way to cope with unpleasant feelings, the effect of stress hormones on increased appetite and cravings, and more. Despite the risks, there are ways to prevent and manage both medical conditions.
How to Manage Ongoing Anxiety With Obesity
There are many ways to manage ongoing anxiety with obesity. For example, eating fewer total calories per day has been shown to decrease anxiety among people who are obese.The types of foods that are eaten is important, too. Eating fewer sugary, fried, and processed foods can help to manage both anxiety and obesity.
Anxiety and Obesity Medical Treatment
Many healthy lifestyle choices can help to treat both anxiety and obesity. For example, exercise and regularly moving the body can lower stress and anxiety levels, help to reach a healthy weight, and decrease the risk of many diseases such astype 2 diabetesand certaincancers, among many other benefits.There are also medications that can be used along with healthy lifestyle choices to treat both anxiety and obesity.
If you or someone you know is experiencing anxiety, obesity, or both, reach out to a healthcare provider such as a primary care practitioner for support.
BMIBody mass index (BMI) is a dated, biased measure that does not account for several factors, such as body composition, ethnicity, race, gender, and age. Despite being a flawed measure, BMI is widely used today in the medical community because it is an inexpensive and quick method for analyzing potential health status and outcomes.
BMI
Body mass index (BMI) is a dated, biased measure that does not account for several factors, such as body composition, ethnicity, race, gender, and age. Despite being a flawed measure, BMI is widely used today in the medical community because it is an inexpensive and quick method for analyzing potential health status and outcomes.
Some strategies to help reach a healthy weight include:
Better Snacking With Obesity and Anxiety
Reducing certain foods may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. It can help to focus on the foods that promote health and help to manage obesity and anxiety instead of focusing on the foods to be limited. Foods that have been found to reduce anxiety include:
These foods are not heavily processed and are also low in sugar, making them great options for people with obesity.
Summary
Anxiety and obesity can sometimes occur together, and each has been shown to increase the risk of the other. A direct relationship between the two medical conditions is unclear, and it is different for everyone. Anxiety may lead to overeating to cope with emotions that indirectly increase weight, and experiencing obesity and related societal pressures can increase stress and anxiety levels. Hormones and cravings can also affect the relationship between anxiety and obesity.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Mental Health.An anxiety disorder.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Overweight and obesity statistics.
Fonseca NK de O da, Costa M de A, Gosmann NP, et al.Emotional eating in women with generalized anxiety disorder.Trends Psychiatry Psychother. Published online 2023. doi:10.47626/2237-6089-2021-0399.
Segal Y, Gunturu S.Psychological issues associated with obesity. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2024.
Lopes Cortes M, Andrade Louzado J, Galvão Oliveira M, et al.Unhealthy food and psychological stress: The association between ultra-processed food consumption and perceived stress in working-class young adults.IJERPH. 2021;18(8):3863. doi:10.3390/ijerph18083863
Harvard Health Publishing.Eating well to help manage anxiety: Your questions answered.
National Institute on Aging.Real-life benefits of exercise and physical activity.
National Institute on Aging.Maintaining a healthy weight.
Harvard Medical School.Nutritional strategies to ease anxiety.
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