Two of the largest healthcare concerns in the United States are obesity and depression; together they account for over 350 billion dollars in direct costs every single year. Both conditions affect millions of Americans on a daily basis…but how do they affect each other?
In many cases, obesity and depression go hand in hand, but there is good news: if you’re struggling, you are not alone! There’s a potential solution that offers benefits to mental, physical, and emotional health that no other option can: weight-loss surgery.
Obesity: Facts and Figures
According to the latest data from the CDC, 93.3 million adults across the country suffer from obesity, accounting for a prevalence of 39.8%.
What causes obesity varies from person to person; there are many reasons that people struggle with their weight. Among the most common are physical inactivity, overeating, genetics, and even side effects from certain medications.
Likewise, the effects of obesity on the body vary in individual cases with problems starting at a BMI of 25, increasing in severity as this number climbs. Medical professionals recognize four different categories of risk concerning overweight and obesity:
- Overweight — BMI of 25 to 29.9
- Class 1 (low-risk) Obesity — BMI of 30 to 34.9
- Class 2 (moderate-risk) Obesity — BMI of 35 to 39.9
- Class 3 (high-risk) Obesity — BMI of 40 or higher
The designations are important for people to know because obesity affects the body as a whole, from intestinal wellness to joint strength to heart health to general, overall quality of life. Obesity also comes with a risk of developing a number of comorbid conditions, including:
- Type 2 Diabetes
- High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
- Sleep Apnea
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Liver Disease
- Heart Disease
Obesity, Self-Esteem, and Depression
Results from a variety of studies have noted not only the close correlation between obesity, self-esteem, and depression, but the ways in which they can feed into one another. In fact, the CDC states that roughly 43% of people with depression also suffer from obesity. In addition, a JAMA study found that people with obesity are 55% more likely to be depressed, and people with depression are 58% more likely to develop obesity.
Disordered eating can also be connected with these conditions; as with any other addiction, many people use food to cope with difficult and overwhelming feelings. Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is actually the most common type of eating disorder, though the Obesity Action Coalition reports that until recently, it wasn’t commo