Which Came First? Obesity or Depression

Not everyone who is obese is depressed and not everyone who is depressed is obese. Yet, I’ve noticed that there is often a connection between these 2 things. I know for me personally, I suffered through both at the same time. Are you obese and depressed? Does one cause the other? For some people it can.¹

Which came first?

Was I depressed because I was obese? Or was I obese because I was depressed? For me the answer is pretty clear: I was depressed because I was obese. I had always been heavy, even as a kid. So, my early depression was partially caused by my obesity. But my depression sure did feed into my obesity. But for many people, the answer isn’t so clear. Especially since the 2 can easily correlate to each other.

When obesity causes depression

People with obesity are more likely to experience depression. I know it can feel hopeless when it comes to losing weight. Losing weight is HARD. There are multiple factors than can contributor to weight, and not everyone can just eat right and exercise and drop pounds. That feeling of hopeless can go a long way in contributing to depression.^1,2

Then there is the ongoing stigma that society has against individuals that are obese. I have felt the look of shame and disappointment. People assume that we are obese only because we can’t control ourselves when it comes to food. Society doesn’t take into consideration the many other factors that go into weight. Instead, people just stare, judge, and make rude comments. This is hard to handle and often leads us further down the depression hole.

When depression causes obesity

Depression can affect anyone. And there are different types of depression that can have various causes, including specific life events or chemical imbalances in the brain. And with depression, people may find themselves gaining weight.^1,3

Eating can be a coping mechanism we use to feel better. I used eating to cope with difficult emotions. I would eat because I was sad, because it would help release the happy hormones in my brain for just a little longer. Or, anti-depressant medication can even cause weight gain. With weight gain though, may come yet another reason to feel depressed, which may lead to eating more. A vicious cycle. ^4,5

Breaking the cycle

There are many ways that you might be able to break the cycle and shed some of the weight you’re struggling with. While yes, I know the answer is not always eating better and exercise, I've found those are good places to start. Exercise can help with depression, even if it’s just something small that you can manage.³

I also recommend getting in touch with your primary care physician. This can open up the pathway to other potential weight loss options, as well as options to deal with your depression. This might include medication for depression, or treatments for obesity.

When it comes to making big decisions about my health, I talk to my doctor. I want to be sure my choices will be for the better, and that I'm not causing more harm than good. In my experience, my doctor wants to do everything they can to help me get better, whether it's about my weight, my mental health, or both.

It's possible to get help

As a sufferer of depression let me tell you that it’s important that you do what is best for you and reach out for help when you can. I would not be here to support you, dear reader, if it had not been for the continued help of all of my care providers.

Sometimes it’s really hard to tell which came first, the obesity or the depression. Sometimes it’s hard to work on yourself through either of these diagnoses, but it’s possible to get help. Remember that. Hold on to that fact.