Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsObesity and Depression ConnectionRisksTreatmentsLosing Weight While DepressedSupport and Resources
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Obesity and Depression Connection
Risks
Treatments
Losing Weight While Depressed
Support and Resources
There is a strong connection between obesity and depression. If you have one of the conditions, you are more likely to have the other, although which comes first and why this occurs isn’t fully understood.
Forty-three percent of adults with depression also have obesity, and adults with depression are more likely to have obesity than adults without depression.Effective ways to treat both conditions simultaneously exist, which can involve a combination of medical and nonmedical approaches.
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Connection Between Obesity and Depression
There is a known link betweenobesityand depression.Depressionis a risk factor for obesity, and obesity is a risk factor for depression, although how much one affects the other isn’t clear.
Research on whether depression is more likely to cause obesity or obesity is more likely to cause depression has produced differing results.
Conflicting Theories
Although the connection between obesity and depression has been extensively researched, it’s still not known for sure why one condition raises the risk for the other.
There is evidence of a biological connection between the two conditions. Obesity and depression share some physical mechanisms, including acute or chronicinflammation, animbalanced gut microbiome, and gut-brain dysfunction.Adipokineandlipokinefat cellsinfluence brain health and might also play a role in the connection between depression and obesity.
Depression can lead to poor dietary choices, interrupted sleep, lack of energy, and avoiding exercise and other activities, all of which can cause weight gain.
While some studies suggest a genetic connection betweenobesityanddepression, one study found that only 12% of the genetic components of depression were shared with obesity. The research found that environmental factors, especiallychronic stress, could play a role in the relationship between obesity and depression.
Another study found that having a higher fat mass increases the risk for depression but that depression doesn’t increase the risk of obesity. The research theorized that the psychological effects of obesity could cause hormonal and metabolic changes in the body, includinginsulin resistanceandinflammation, that are linked to depression.
Long-term use of certainantidepressantscan increase cravings for carbohydrate-rich foods and lead to weight gain. Antidepressants most likely to cause weight gain are:AmitriptylineCitalopramMirtazapineNortriptylineTrimipramineParoxetinePhenelzine
Long-term use of certainantidepressantscan increase cravings for carbohydrate-rich foods and lead to weight gain. Antidepressants most likely to cause weight gain are:
Risks of Living With Obesity and Depression
Obesity and depression are both major public health concerns that negatively impact quality of life and raise the risk forheart disease,type 2 diabetes, andcertain cancers.Having both obesity and depression also increases the risk ofhypertensionandhigh cholesterol.
Obesity and depression, either alone or together, are also associated with increased primary and specialty care visits, hospitalizations, and higher healthcare costs than those without either condition.
A Word From VerywellWeight stigma can lead people to internalize negative messages about their bodies, leading to low self-esteem. This can contribute to depression and other mental health issues. A physical and mental wellness approach is essential in addressing these issues.—MELISSA NIEVES, LND, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Weight stigma can lead people to internalize negative messages about their bodies, leading to low self-esteem. This can contribute to depression and other mental health issues. A physical and mental wellness approach is essential in addressing these issues.—MELISSA NIEVES, LND, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Weight stigma can lead people to internalize negative messages about their bodies, leading to low self-esteem. This can contribute to depression and other mental health issues. A physical and mental wellness approach is essential in addressing these issues.
—MELISSA NIEVES, LND, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Treatments to Manage Depression With Obesity
While there are effective treatments for depression and obesity separately, there can be challenges to doing so. These challenges include seeing multiple care providers over long periods and finding access to and affording care.Current research is focusing on treatments to manage both conditions together.
One study found that a collaborative care approach combining weight-loss treatment, problem-solvingpsychotherapy, and antidepressant medications as needed helped reduce depression symptoms and improve weight after 12 months compared to usual care with a primary care physician.
Research also shows that weight loss through calorie-restricted diets can help improve mood and that people who’ve lost weight report improvement indepression symptoms.In one study, aketogenic dietsignificantly reduced fat mass and depression symptoms in patients withmultiple sclerosis.Mediterraneanandanti-inflammatorydiets have also been shown to improve depression.
Probiotics and prebioticsmight also help to prevent and treat obesity and depression, but more research is needed.
How to Realistically Lose Weight While Depressed
Losing weight through diet and exercise can be more difficult if you have depression. If you are struggling to lose weight while you’re depressed, it’s essential to seek help.
Medical and Behavioral Interventions
Anti-obesity medicationsand intensive behavioral therapy can help with weight loss and also counteract weight gain that some depression medications, such asantidepressantsandmood stabilizers, can cause.
Sleep
Poor sleep is linked to both obesity and depression. Up to 75% of people with depression have trouble falling or staying asleep, and those withinsomniahave up to 10 times greater risk of developing depression than people without insomnia.
Poor sleep is also associated with weight gain because sleep helps regulate hunger hormones. Inadequate sleep can cause you to eat more or make unhealthy food choices.
Adults should get seven to nine hours of quality sleep daily. Practicinggood sleep habitscan also help improve sleep.
If you are having ongoing trouble falling or staying asleep, or find yourselftired during the day, consult a healthcare provider.
Exercise
Getting regular exercise can help with weight loss and has also been found to be effective at treating depression. Walking or jogging,yoga, andstrength training, especially at intense levels, have been the most effective forms of exercise for helping depression, mainly when used in conjunction with psychotherapy and antidepressants.
Summary
It’s common for obesity and depression to occur together, although why this happens isn’t fully understood. Both conditions raise the risk of having certain other health conditions and a poor quality of life.
Being depressed can make it more challenging to lose weight. If you are experiencing depression and obesity, it’s important to seek support and contact a healthcare provider because effective treatments are available.
20 SourcesVerywell 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.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Depression and obesity in the U.S. adult household population, 2005-2010.Blasco BV, García-Jiménez J, Bodoano I, Gutiérrez-Rojas L.Obesity and depression: its prevalence and influence as a prognostic factor: a systematic review.Psychiatry Investig.2020;17(8):715-724. doi:10.30773/pi.2020.0099Patsalos O, Keeler J, Schmidt U, et al.Diet, obesity, and depression: a systematic review.J Pers Med.2021;11(3):176. doi:10.3390/jpm11030176Fu X, Wang Y, Zhao F, et al.Shared biological mechanisms of depression and obesity: focus on adipokines and lipokines.Aging (Albany NY). 2023;15(12):5917-5950. doi:10.18632/aging.204847National Council on Aging.How excess weight impacts our mental and emotional health.Afari N, Noonan C, Goldberg J, et al.Depression and obesity: do shared genes explain the relationship?Depress Anxiety. 2010;27(9):799-806. doi:10.1002/da.20704Speed MS, Jefsen OH, Børglum AD, Speed D, Østergaard SD.Investigating the association between body fat and depression via Mendelian randomization.Transl Psychiatry.2019;9(1):184. doi:10.1038/s41398-019-0516-4Harvard Health.Managing weight gain from psychiatric medications.Haregu TN, Lee JT, Oldenburg B, Armstrong G.Comorbid depression and obesity: correlates and synergistic association with noncommunicable diseases among Australian men.Prev Chronic Dis.2020;17:190420. doi:10.5888/pcd17.190420Nigatu YT, Bültmann U, Schoevers RA, et al.Does obesity along with major depression or anxiety lead to higher use of health care and costs? A 6-year follow-up study.Eur J Public Health.2017;27(6):965-971. doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckx126University of Illinois.Integrated therapy treating obesity and depression is effective.Ma J, Rosas LG, Lv N, et al.Effect of integrated behavioral weight loss treatment and problem-solving therapy on body mass index and depressive symptoms among patients with obesity and depression.JAMA.2019;321(9):869–879. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.0557Brenton JN, Lehner-Gulotta D, Woolbright E, et al.Phase II study of ketogenic diets in relapsing multiple sclerosis: safety, tolerability and potential clinical benefits.J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry.2022;93(6):637-644. doi:10.1136/jnnp-2022-329074Johns Hopkins Medicine.Depression and sleep: understanding the connection.National Council on Aging.How sleep affects your health.Noetel M, Sanders T, Gallardo-Gómez D, et al.Effect of exercise for depression: systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.BMJ.2024;384:e075847. doi:10.1136/bmj-2023-075847National Institutes of Health.Depression.Obesity Medicine Association.Find an obesity medicine provider.Ufholz K.Peer support groups for weight loss.Curr Cardiovasc Risk Rep. 2020;14(19). doi:10.1007/s12170-020-00654-4Mental Health America.Find support groups.
20 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.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Depression and obesity in the U.S. adult household population, 2005-2010.Blasco BV, García-Jiménez J, Bodoano I, Gutiérrez-Rojas L.Obesity and depression: its prevalence and influence as a prognostic factor: a systematic review.Psychiatry Investig.2020;17(8):715-724. doi:10.30773/pi.2020.0099Patsalos O, Keeler J, Schmidt U, et al.Diet, obesity, and depression: a systematic review.J Pers Med.2021;11(3):176. doi:10.3390/jpm11030176Fu X, Wang Y, Zhao F, et al.Shared biological mechanisms of depression and obesity: focus on adipokines and lipokines.Aging (Albany NY). 2023;15(12):5917-5950. doi:10.18632/aging.204847National Council on Aging.How excess weight impacts our mental and emotional health.Afari N, Noonan C, Goldberg J, et al.Depression and obesity: do shared genes explain the relationship?Depress Anxiety. 2010;27(9):799-806. doi:10.1002/da.20704Speed MS, Jefsen OH, Børglum AD, Speed D, Østergaard SD.Investigating the association between body fat and depression via Mendelian randomization.Transl Psychiatry.2019;9(1):184. doi:10.1038/s41398-019-0516-4Harvard Health.Managing weight gain from psychiatric medications.Haregu TN, Lee JT, Oldenburg B, Armstrong G.Comorbid depression and obesity: correlates and synergistic association with noncommunicable diseases among Australian men.Prev Chronic Dis.2020;17:190420. doi:10.5888/pcd17.190420Nigatu YT, Bültmann U, Schoevers RA, et al.Does obesity along with major depression or anxiety lead to higher use of health care and costs? A 6-year follow-up study.Eur J Public Health.2017;27(6):965-971. doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckx126University of Illinois.Integrated therapy treating obesity and depression is effective.Ma J, Rosas LG, Lv N, et al.Effect of integrated behavioral weight loss treatment and problem-solving therapy on body mass index and depressive symptoms among patients with obesity and depression.JAMA.2019;321(9):869–879. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.0557Brenton JN, Lehner-Gulotta D, Woolbright E, et al.Phase II study of ketogenic diets in relapsing multiple sclerosis: safety, tolerability and potential clinical benefits.J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry.2022;93(6):637-644. doi:10.1136/jnnp-2022-329074Johns Hopkins Medicine.Depression and sleep: understanding the connection.National Council on Aging.How sleep affects your health.Noetel M, Sanders T, Gallardo-Gómez D, et al.Effect of exercise for depression: systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.BMJ.2024;384:e075847. doi:10.1136/bmj-2023-075847National Institutes of Health.Depression.Obesity Medicine Association.Find an obesity medicine provider.Ufholz K.Peer support groups for weight loss.Curr Cardiovasc Risk Rep. 2020;14(19). doi:10.1007/s12170-020-00654-4Mental Health America.Find support groups.
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.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Depression and obesity in the U.S. adult household population, 2005-2010.Blasco BV, García-Jiménez J, Bodoano I, Gutiérrez-Rojas L.Obesity and depression: its prevalence and influence as a prognostic factor: a systematic review.Psychiatry Investig.2020;17(8):715-724. doi:10.30773/pi.2020.0099Patsalos O, Keeler J, Schmidt U, et al.Diet, obesity, and depression: a systematic review.J Pers Med.2021;11(3):176. doi:10.3390/jpm11030176Fu X, Wang Y, Zhao F, et al.Shared biological mechanisms of depression and obesity: focus on adipokines and lipokines.Aging (Albany NY). 2023;15(12):5917-5950. doi:10.18632/aging.204847National Council on Aging.How excess weight impacts our mental and emotional health.Afari N, Noonan C, Goldberg J, et al.Depression and obesity: do shared genes explain the relationship?Depress Anxiety. 2010;27(9):799-806. doi:10.1002/da.20704Speed MS, Jefsen OH, Børglum AD, Speed D, Østergaard SD.Investigating the association between body fat and depression via Mendelian randomization.Transl Psychiatry.2019;9(1):184. doi:10.1038/s41398-019-0516-4Harvard Health.Managing weight gain from psychiatric medications.Haregu TN, Lee JT, Oldenburg B, Armstrong G.Comorbid depression and obesity: correlates and synergistic association with noncommunicable diseases among Australian men.Prev Chronic Dis.2020;17:190420. doi:10.5888/pcd17.190420Nigatu YT, Bültmann U, Schoevers RA, et al.Does obesity along with major depression or anxiety lead to higher use of health care and costs? A 6-year follow-up study.Eur J Public Health.2017;27(6):965-971. doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckx126University of Illinois.Integrated therapy treating obesity and depression is effective.Ma J, Rosas LG, Lv N, et al.Effect of integrated behavioral weight loss treatment and problem-solving therapy on body mass index and depressive symptoms among patients with obesity and depression.JAMA.2019;321(9):869–879. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.0557Brenton JN, Lehner-Gulotta D, Woolbright E, et al.Phase II study of ketogenic diets in relapsing multiple sclerosis: safety, tolerability and potential clinical benefits.J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry.2022;93(6):637-644. doi:10.1136/jnnp-2022-329074Johns Hopkins Medicine.Depression and sleep: understanding the connection.National Council on Aging.How sleep affects your health.Noetel M, Sanders T, Gallardo-Gómez D, et al.Effect of exercise for depression: systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.BMJ.2024;384:e075847. doi:10.1136/bmj-2023-075847National Institutes of Health.Depression.Obesity Medicine Association.Find an obesity medicine provider.Ufholz K.Peer support groups for weight loss.Curr Cardiovasc Risk Rep. 2020;14(19). doi:10.1007/s12170-020-00654-4Mental Health America.Find support groups.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Depression and obesity in the U.S. adult household population, 2005-2010.
Blasco BV, García-Jiménez J, Bodoano I, Gutiérrez-Rojas L.Obesity and depression: its prevalence and influence as a prognostic factor: a systematic review.Psychiatry Investig.2020;17(8):715-724. doi:10.30773/pi.2020.0099
Patsalos O, Keeler J, Schmidt U, et al.Diet, obesity, and depression: a systematic review.J Pers Med.2021;11(3):176. doi:10.3390/jpm11030176
Fu X, Wang Y, Zhao F, et al.Shared biological mechanisms of depression and obesity: focus on adipokines and lipokines.Aging (Albany NY). 2023;15(12):5917-5950. doi:10.18632/aging.204847
National Council on Aging.How excess weight impacts our mental and emotional health.
Afari N, Noonan C, Goldberg J, et al.Depression and obesity: do shared genes explain the relationship?Depress Anxiety. 2010;27(9):799-806. doi:10.1002/da.20704
Speed MS, Jefsen OH, Børglum AD, Speed D, Østergaard SD.Investigating the association between body fat and depression via Mendelian randomization.Transl Psychiatry.2019;9(1):184. doi:10.1038/s41398-019-0516-4
Harvard Health.Managing weight gain from psychiatric medications.
Haregu TN, Lee JT, Oldenburg B, Armstrong G.Comorbid depression and obesity: correlates and synergistic association with noncommunicable diseases among Australian men.Prev Chronic Dis.2020;17:190420. doi:10.5888/pcd17.190420
Nigatu YT, Bültmann U, Schoevers RA, et al.Does obesity along with major depression or anxiety lead to higher use of health care and costs? A 6-year follow-up study.Eur J Public Health.2017;27(6):965-971. doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckx126
University of Illinois.Integrated therapy treating obesity and depression is effective.
Ma J, Rosas LG, Lv N, et al.Effect of integrated behavioral weight loss treatment and problem-solving therapy on body mass index and depressive symptoms among patients with obesity and depression.JAMA.2019;321(9):869–879. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.0557
Brenton JN, Lehner-Gulotta D, Woolbright E, et al.Phase II study of ketogenic diets in relapsing multiple sclerosis: safety, tolerability and potential clinical benefits.J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry.2022;93(6):637-644. doi:10.1136/jnnp-2022-329074
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Depression and sleep: understanding the connection.
National Council on Aging.How sleep affects your health.
Noetel M, Sanders T, Gallardo-Gómez D, et al.Effect of exercise for depression: systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.BMJ.2024;384:e075847. doi:10.1136/bmj-2023-075847
National Institutes of Health.Depression.
Obesity Medicine Association.Find an obesity medicine provider.
Ufholz K.Peer support groups for weight loss.Curr Cardiovasc Risk Rep. 2020;14(19). doi:10.1007/s12170-020-00654-4
Mental Health America.Find support groups.
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