Morbid Obesity and Depression

Our understanding of depressive disorders has evolved with time. Hippocrates referred to the condition as melancholia. Freud considered the condition a consequence of guilt and conflicting emotions. The 1950s saw the condition being divided into endogenous and neurotic depression.

Today there is consensus that depression is a syndrome often characterized by more than one symptom. Intense sadness and irritability for either short or long durations manifest during episodes of the condition. Physical signs include lethargy, body aches, mood swings, lack of appetite, overeating, and poor sleep patterns.

Forms of depression

Depressive disorders can be broken down into several subcategories. Of these, major depressive disorder is the most common type. A major depressive disorder or major depression is a debilitative and disabling condition that hinders a person in functioning normally on a physiological and emotional level. The symptoms can last for two weeks at a time; they include sadness, irritability, despondency, hopelessness, and an inability to derive pleasure from once-pleasurable activities. Weight loss or excessive weight gain may occur. Physical symptoms include headaches, body aches, and chronic pain that refuses to go away.

Dysthymic disorders are less severe than cases of major depression; however, the disorder can last for two years or more. It is a long-term condition.

Depression can also occur following specific incidents or circumstances. Psychotic depression is often a result of a bad case of depression which an individual can lose contact with reality and get delusional. One in ten women experiences post-partum depression within one month of giving birth. Some individuals exhibit symptoms of depression in the winter season when natural light is less; the lack of sunshine dampens spirits. This form of depression is known as seasonal affective disorder.

Diagnosis of depression

A proper evaluation to find out whether a subject is suffering from depression will include both physical and psychological examination. A diagnosis has to be such that it can ascertain as accurately as possible the true causes of depression. This is because a depressive disorder can result from a number of causes including mineral deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, and thyroid conditions. If no physical abnormalities that are risk factors for depression are found then the patient may be referred to a psychologist for further evaluation.

Elaborate procedures are required to diagnose depression because there is no laboratory test that can confirm the presence of this condition. Signs, symptoms, medical history, and observations made by the medical professional during a subject's sessions with him contribute toward enabling the doctor to understand the entire picture.

The subject should be prepared to answer questions on the nature of symptoms, duration of symptoms, severity, previous episodes and effective treatment, lifestyle followed, etc.

Depression between genders and across age groups

The rates of depression are higher in women than in men. The female biological and psychological makeup is an important factor that probably contributes to the higher incidents of depressive disorders. Hormones affect moods and emotional responses to situations. Post-partum hormonal changes are thought to contribute to cases of depression in new mothers. Women are also susceptible to bouts of depression when entering menopause, this too is linked to hormonal changes.

Depression in men gives rise to symptoms such as loss of energy and enthusiasm and in women feelings of sadness and guilt predominate. Typical reactions by men experiencing episodes of depression include turning to alcohol, becoming more irritable, and working extra hours.

Depression in senior citizens can occur due to medical conditions that come with age and the medications taken. The symptoms may not be as apparent or similar to those exhibited by younger adults. Depression in seniors is harder to detect.

Children too are susceptible to depression. Depression in children can be a precursor to more serious depressive disorders in adulthood. Depressive kids may try to avoid school, social interaction, lose interest in play, sulk, and even depict anti-social behavior by getting into trouble with peers and seniors. Adolescence is a period when youngsters are particularly vulnerable to depression. A combination of hormonal changes, changes in appearance, and also substance abuse.

Treatment for depression

Depression is a treatable condition. Chances of preventing recurrence, type and duration of medication depend upon how old the condition is. Depression is treated with the help of medicines and psychotherapy. Serotonin and norepinephrine are mood regulating neurotransmitters found in the brain. Antidepressants work to regulate their secretion and thereby control mood swings. Intake of certain prescription medicines is accompanied by food restrictions that need to be adhered to. Getting off an antidepressant has to be a gradual process in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Side-effects associated with anti-depressants include headache, dryness in the mouth, nausea, insomnia, etc.

Depression can be treated successfully through psychotherapy sessions. In fact, such sessions are often the best recourse for treating cases of moderate depression. Therapy forms such as cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy help subjects overcome issues related to negative thoughts and difficult interpersonal relationships. Most subjects respond best to a combination of psychotherapy and medication. This dual treatment procedure works best in minimizing the chances of a depression episode recurring.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a treatment option for those that do not benefit from medicines and psychotherapy. The subject is administered a muscle relaxant and anesthesia. ECT courses may vary from a couple during a week to regular maintenance sessions once a month.

Depression and obesity

Research has shown that depression and obesity are closely linked. The relationship between the conditions is a two-way street. Obesity can lead to depression and those suffering from depressive disorders are candidates for obesity. The two-way risk implies that the approach to treatment also has to be two-pronged. The subject has to bring in lifestyle changes to counter obesity as well as depression. An active lifestyle to lose weight and a conscious effort to stay away from depression triggers will benefit subjects.

The inter-relationship between the conditions is complex and involves physiological, psychological, and psycho-social aspects. However, it is clear that reducing weight helps in overcoming depressive tendencies that may arise from social stigmatization that obese individuals have to face. Depressed and obese individuals can experience chronic stress and may exhibit a dysfunctional response to the situation; the response being to gorge themselves with food; particularly comfort food that is often inexpensive and very high on calories. Also researchers conjecture that depression can lead to a weight gain because of the antidepressant medication interfering with the normal functioning of the endocrine system.

Obesity is particularly harmful for children and adolescents because not only does it carry the risks of a number of chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure, it can lead vulnerable children into depression during their growing up years. There is an adverse effect on their quality of life.

Bariatric surgery is a proven surgical procedure to help individuals lose weight. Depressive and obese individuals benefit from this surgery. Enhanced self-esteem following bariatric surgery and necessary lifestyle changes have been shown to help patients suffering from depression. However, continued medication is required to keep the disorder at bay. Because depression is also associated with diabetes, one of the co-morbidities related with obesity, bariatric surgery to curb obesity is a worthwhile treatment procedure.

Bariatric surgery is not a direct treatment for depression, but its positive effect on depressive patients has been shown by the improvement in post-surgery markers of depression.

Clinical depression is a mood disorder during which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday living for extended periods of time. This is very different from having a bad day, feeling unhappy, or just “down in the dumps.” You may want to consider bariatric surgery’s improvement rates for this condition.

People with depression may experience: