Like the chicken and the egg scenario, it’s difficult to know what comes first: obesity or depression. But experts know that depression is caused by chronic stress and stress releases a specific hormone that triggers the body to eat high carb, comfort food.
It’s called cortisol, or the “stress hormone,” and it plays a critical role in energy metabolism. Cortisol is secreted within the pathway of communication between the hypothalamus, the peanut-sized part of the brain that governs parts of the nervous system, and the pituitary and adrenal glands, which secrete a variety of hormones. However, abnormal functioning of cortisol due to too much stress leads to cravings for carbohydrates instead of nutritious foods.
What’s more, cortisol leads to cravings for the types of carbohydrates that specifically target the abdomen. Increased abdominal fat is associated with a greater amount of health problems than fat deposited in other areas of the body. Some of the health problems associated with increased stomach fat are heart attacks, strokes, and higher levels of bad cholesterol and lower levels of good cholesterol, which can lead to other health problems.
According to Chenango County’s longtime Mental Health Clinic Coordinator Martha Sichta, foods that are high in carbs – the comfort foods like macaroni and cheese and chili that are touted on most all cooking shows – in turn release the “feel good hormone,” seratonin, instead of the essential vitamins and nutrients the body needs. Fluctuating seratonin levels, as a result, can send people on a moody, roller coaster ride.
The number of mental health clinic clients who suffer from both depression and obesity is not tallied by the county; however Sichta said there is definitely a correlation between the illnesses among all age groups.
“The connection is clear because when people are depressed, they are less active, hopeful and motivated, and less able to do positive things for themselves. This often results in obesity.”
Depression and obesity are particularly stigmatizing and detrimental to the social adjustment of children and adolescents, she added.
To treat obesity, the mental health clinic offers individual counseling, family, relationship and group counseling, and treatments for depression that encourage people to become more active in their lives. The focus is on helping people identify the physical things they can do.
Medications to treat depression, in consult with the clinic’s psychiatric staff, are also prescribed, however antidepressants can be a double-edged sword: Most cause weight gain.
On top of that pesty cortisol, those fatty carbs and mood altering seratonin, obese individuals are confounded by the difficulty of keeping to a fitness schedule. The authors of a study published in the March 2008 issue of Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice say that people who are depressed “have more difficulty taking good care of themselves because of symptoms and consequences of depression, such as difficulty adhering to fitness regiments, overeating, and having negative thoughts.”
And, unfortunately, dieting can actually worsen mood because most regimes restrict the nutrients that help the body manufacture the optimum levels of neurotransmitters, like seratonin.
“Almost everyone overweight has tried to diet. It is very difficult to get a success rate with that,” Sichta said.
Acupuncture treatments for depression and obesity are connected and influence each other, said Norwich-based acupuncturist Xiaolei Zhang. Her professional experience is that obesity will cause depression, but depression does not always cause obesity. “When people are so depressed, they are often sluggish,” the licensed New York state acupuncturist said.
Treatments for both illness begin with twice a week, then once a week or every other week, followed by once a month appointments. To tackle the situation of overweight, Zhang said patients should plan an acupuncture schedule stretched out over a year.
Zhang said she is encouraged, however, with national media education that is helping people understand the importance of feeling good rather than weighing a specific number of pounds.
“It think people are starting to take their images much less serious and concentrating on feeling good,” she said.
New Berlin psychologist Thomas H. Golden offers an eight-session program that targets both the obese individual and their family. The basic premise, he said, is that the strength of a family offers the best route to change.
“The focus isn’t just on the will power, character or strength of commitment of the person. Most of the time, it’s much too difficult for an individual to cope with obesity alone, particulary when it comes to children,” he said. “After all, children don’t go to the store, buy food and put it on the table.”
Golden, who is currently authoring a book on the subject, “Obesity is a Family Affair,” said the illness is a major epidemic that is currently attacking America’s children.
“One of the emotional consequences is, of course, depression,” he added.