Obesity and Depression Go Hand in Hand

Over the past couple days I have talked to more than a few women who are depressed because they are overweight and can’t seem to do anything (consistently) about it. Often they feel like failures.


Then I happened on an interesting article explaining that middle-aged women are much more likely to be depressed if theyare obese, and vice versa. Rising excess weight goes along with less physical activity, higher calorie intake — and depression — according to the research.

The reason, said lead author Gregory Simon, M.D., is that depression and obesity likely fuel one another. “When people gain weight, they’re more likely to become depressed, and when they get depressed, they have more trouble losing weight,” said Simon, a psychiatrist and researcher at Group Health Cooperative in Seattle.

For the study, researchers interviewed 4,641 female health-plan enrollees, ages 40 to 65, by phone. The women were asked questions regarding height, weight, exercise levels, dietary habits and body image. They also completed the Patient Health Questionnaire, a measure of depression symptoms.

Women withclinical depression were more than twice as likely to be obese, defined as having a body-mass index (BMI) of 30 or more; likewise, obese women were more than twice as likely to be depressed.

Not surprisingly, women with BMIs at or above 30 exercised the least, had the poorest body image and ingested 20 percent more calories than those with lower BMIs. The depression-obesity association held even when the researchers factored in marital status, education, tobacco use and antidepressant use.

The association was stronger in this study than in previous, comparable ones — possibly because the sample was predominantly white and middle-class. “There is some evidence that being overweight is less stigmatized for men, for lower-income people and for women in nonwhite ethnic groups,” Simon said.

The stigma of being overweight could hurt self-esteem, and thus, efforts to lose weight, Simon said. “It’s not that these women are clueless,” he said. “It’s that they’re hopeless. The takeaway for obese women is to focus on rebuilding their spirit, which can help with losing pounds,” he said.

My take on this is that we need to give all the support we can to the women (and men) who wish to make a change to not only their physical size but to their life and well being.  No one wants (or needs) to be overweight, much less depressed. Life is too short...we need to enjoy every minute and be able to enjoy the bodies we live in!!

Yet Another Reason to Lose Weight

As if we don't already know that being obese is a health hazard that can ultimately kill you and that nearly 30 percent of the adult population is considered obese, new research  by the Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) has found that fat collection in various body locations, such as around the heart and the aorta and within the liver can cause a decrease in cardio-pumping function.

In the past, studies have shown that fat accumulation in the liver and around the heart are linked to cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

According to James Hamilton, PhD, senior author and project leader, and a professor of biophysics, physiology and biomedical engineering at BUSM, the study "Found that fat collection around the heart, the aorta and within the liver is clearly associated with decreased heart functions and that an MRI can quickly and noninvasively measure fat volume in these areas. Our study also found that looking at BMI of the individual does not reliably predict the amount of undesired fat in and around organs."

It's no wonder you get out of breath just walking from the car to the front door or loading groceries in the trunk of your car. Your poor heart is working much too hard to pump blood to your extremities and through miles of extra body mass.

"Our study found that fat collection around the heart, the aorta and within the liver is clearly associated with decreased heart functions and that an MRI can quickly and noninvasively measure fat volume in these areas. Our study also found that looking at BMI of the individual does not reliably predict the amount of undesired fat in and around organs," said Hamilton.

If you needed another reason to motivate you to get off the sofa and start moving--and losing weight--hopefully this is it. Life is too short to go through it overweight and miserable. Being fit puts you on top of your game, and on top of the world.

Don't wait. Get started on your healthy lifestyle today!

Weight: It's a Matter of Opinion

Just for the record, I don't advocate being "thin". At least not thin as in the waif-like girls and women we see on TV and in magazines. To me, thin means not being overweight. And that is different for each one of us.

The thing to remember is that being HEALTHY and at a normal weight is far more important than being classified as thin. If you are not happy with your body, you have the power to do something about it. We all do.

You may be carrying extra pounds.

You may be underweight due to an eating disorder.




You may be the ideal weight but are flabby and mushy and feel like @#%$!!

It's time to make a committment to feeling better. Looking better. Living better. And it all begins with you.

Stick with me and I'll help you achieve whatever it is you wish to achieve. As for me, I was ten pounds overweight, gushy, flabby and just plain tired.

I am now the ideal weight, have a fairly athletic body and while I still loathe trying on bathing suits, overall I am happy with my body. And I feel fantastic! I haven't been sick a single day in years. My choleserol is so low the doctor is astounded.

Not bragging -- just want you to know that if I can do it (especially well into my forties) you can do it to!

Here's to you becoming thin --whatever that may mean!!

Obesity and the Incredible Shinking Brain

As if obesity doesn't cause enough health problems  (increased risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and even some cancers to name a few),  there is now research that shows that obese people have eight percent less brain tissue than normal-weight individuals. Eight percent! (Oh -- and lest I not forget to mention that its also been shown to reduce sexual activity).

The research was funded by the National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Center for Research Resources, and the American Heart Association. The study scanned 94 people in their seventies. Their brains were found to appear 16 years older than the brains of lean individuals. People in the study who were classifed as overweight had 4 percent less brain tissue and their brains appear to have aged prematurely by 8 years.

More than 300 million worldwide are now classified as obese, according to the World Health Organization. Another billion are overweight. Experts say the main causes are bad diet, including an increased reliance on highly processed foods (read fast and junk food).

Obesity is measured by body mass index (BMI), defined as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters. A BMI over 25 is defined as overweight, and a BMI of over 30 as obese.

I don't know about you, but I need all the brain function (and surface) I can get. Just one more reason to eat healthy in an effort to stay fit and lean.