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 obesity and depression.

I know for me personally, I suffered through both at the same time. If you are currently navigating both conditions, you might wonder: Are you obese and depressed? Does one cause the other? For some people, it absolutely 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 of my weight.

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 back into my weight gain.

For many people, however, the answer isn’t so clear. This is especially true since the two struggles can easily correlate with each other.

When living with obesity causes depression

People with obesity are significantly more likely to experience depression. I know it can feel hopeless when it comes to losing weight. Losing weight is incredibly HARD.

There are multiple complex factors than can contribute to weight, and it is a myth that everyone can eat right and exercise, and drop pounds. That feeling of hopelessness can go a long way in contributing to depression.^1,2

Then there is the ongoing stigma that society has against individuals that are living with obesity. I have felt the look of shame and disappointment firsthand. Many people make hurtful, uneducated assumptions about us, including:

• Assuming that we are obese only because we lack self-control around food.
• Failing to take into consideration the medical, genetic, and environmental factors that dictate weight.
• Staring, judging, and making unsolicited, rude comments in public spaces.

This is incredibly hard to handle. The emotional toll often leads us further down the depression hole.

When struggling with depression leads to weight gain

Depression can affect anyone. There are different types of depression that can have various causes, including specific life events or chemical imbalances in the brain.

With clinical depression, people frequently find themselves experiencing noticeable weight gain.^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.

Additionally, prescribed antidepressant medication can even cause weight gain as a side effect. With unexpected weight gain, however, may come yet another reason to feel depressed, which may lead to eating more. It becomes a vicious cycle. ^4,5

Practical steps for breaking the cycle

There are so 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 as simple as eating better and exercising, I've found those are still good places to start. Exercise can significantly help with depression, even if it’s just something small that you can manage comfortably.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 mental health. This might include medication for depression, or targeted medical 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 is always 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 always possible to get help. Remember that. Hold on to that fact.