Obesity and depression linked

July 5, 2006 in Nutrition Topics in the News, Weight Management

Obesity and depression linked

Researchers from Group Health Center for Health Studies have found that there is a strong link between obesity and mood and anxiety disorders, especially among Caucasian Americans and those with more education and higher income.

The study, published in the July issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry, found that an obese person is about 25 percent more likely than a non-obese person to have a mood or anxiety disorder, such as depression. It also indicated that among Caucasian Americans and more educated people who are obese, that likelihood may be as high as 44 percent.

The study did not show whether obesity leads to depression or vice versa.

Researchers also found a negative association between obesity and substance abuse. That is, an obese person is 25 percent less likely than a non-obese person to have had a substance abuse disorder sometime in their lives.

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