A new discovery: Weight and depression – they are connected

Many people associate increased body weight with depression, but these things seem to be connected even more than we used to think.

New research suggests that an increase in symptoms of depression is linked to a subsequent rise in body weight when measured one month later.

Let's find out more about this correlation.

How it was discovered

The research involved more than 2,000 adults, specifically focusing on those with overweight or obesity.

Surprisingly, there was no apparent link between experiencing higher symptoms of depression in general and having a higher body weight.

To gather information, the researchers utilized data from the Fenland COVID-19 Study.

Participants engaged in answering digital questionnaires about their mental well-being and body weight every month for up to nine months during the pandemic.

The findings of the study revealed a notable pattern: for each increase in an individual's typical score for depressive symptoms, their weight one month later increased by 45g.

Interestingly, this weight change was noticeable only in individuals with overweight or obesity, highlighting the susceptibility of this group to gaining weight when experiencing heightened feelings of depression.

Why it's important to know

The researchers suggest that keeping an eye on and dealing with depressive symptoms in individuals with overweight or obesity could be advantageous for both their mental and physical well-being.

Interestingly, the study did not find any indications that changes in weight were associated with perceived stress or anxiety.

Previously, we talked about maturing.

• Related news:
• research
• body weight
• depression
• mental health
• health
• 4 February 2024

---