Unraveling the weight of emotions: a comprehensive review of the interplay between depression and obesity

Aleksandra Ziółkowska; Szymon Wojtaszek; Bogdan Fels

doi:10.56782/pps.234

Published : 2024-10-18

Vol. 22 No. 4 (2024)

Unraveling the weight of emotions: a comprehensive review of the interplay between depression and obesity

Aleksandra Ziółkowska

Szymon Wojtaszek

Bogdan Fels

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56782/pps.234

Abstract

Obesity is an excessive or abnormal accumulation of fat or adipose tissue in the body. This disease impairs health in a variety of mechanisms, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cancers, but also depression. This article aims to summarise the latest information on the correlation between depression and obesity, to make the problem more widespread, to highlight the many implications of this disease, and to encourage healthy living. Based on the existing research, we present several potential mechanisms that may link the two phenomena.Obesity and depression co-occur to a significant extent. This is linked to endocrine and immune system disorders, but also pathological psychological and social mechanisms. A review of the literature from PubMed, Google Scholar, and Medline (1996-2024) was conducted. The articles were selected based on specific keywords and then evaluated for their significance and suitability for inclusion in this review. Obesity is a complex disease leading to many health implications including depression. Treatment of both conditions is extremely important and requires a multidisciplinary approach, including pharmacological treatment, dietary counseling, psychological counseling, and lifestyle modification. Early implementation of appropriate treatment is essential to optimize treatment outcomes.

Keywords:

obesity, depression, weight loss

Similar Articles

Zofia Suchocka, OBESITY - REASONS AND TREATMENT , Prospects in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Vol. 1 No. 1 (2003)
Daria Żuraw, Paulina Oleksa, Mateusz Sobczyk, Kacper Jasiński, Simple obesity in children , Prospects in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Vol. 21 No. 2 (2023)
Agnieszka Sienicka, Krzysztof Kubasik, Agata Pisula, The glucagon-like peptide-1 analogues therapy in the non-diabetic patients , Prospects in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Vol. 21 No. 1 (2023)
Agnieszka Kalicka, Natalia Tarłowska, Counterfeit and illegal medicinal products as an example of drugs that do not meet the basic quality requirements , Prospects in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Vol. 21 No. 4 (2023)
Kinga Kocur, Katarzyna Camlet, Anna Ziobro, Mateusz Ziomek, Wojciech Kaźmierski, Paulina Lis, Jakub Jurek, Anna Lis, Renaissance of Ketamine , Prospects in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Vol. 22 No. 3 (2024)
Katarzyna Herjan, Piotr Armański, Jakub Olszewski, Magdalena Sitnik, Maciej Bara, Positive impact of tranexamic acid in various medical settings , Prospects in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Vol. 22 No. 3 (2024)
Ewelina Flegiel, Magdalena Piotrowska, Magdalena Ptasznik, Aleksandra Baran, Justyna Lenart, Miłosz Podrażka, Joanna Mazurek, Hubert Stachowicz, Weronika Bartos, Monika Adamczyk, Review of the effects of sodium butyrate on obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, pregnancy and colorectal cancer , Prospects in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Vol. 22 No. 4 (2024)
Agnieszka Strawa, Ewa Skarżyńska, Barbara Lisowska-Myjak, Can overweight or underweight in young healthy women in the pre-conception period predict disturbed homeostasis of thyroid hormones and protein composition in serum? , Prospects in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Vol. 20 No. 1 (2022)
Martyna Z. Wróbel, Monika Marciniak, 5-HT1A RECEPTOR LIGANDS AS POTENTIAL ANTIDEPRESSANTS , Prospects in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Vol. 13 No. 5 (2015)
Jakub Olszewski, Katarzyn Kozon, Andrzej Patyra, Flozins in heart failure – a new reimbursement indication , Prospects in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Vol. 20 No. 1 (2022)

1 2 3 > >>

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.

Details

References

Statistics

Authors

Download files

PDF

Citation rules

Ziółkowska, A., Szymon Wojtaszek, & Bogdan Fels. (2024). Unraveling the weight of emotions: a comprehensive review of the interplay between depression and obesity. Prospects in Pharmaceutical Sciences, 22(4), 25–30. https://doi.org/10.56782/pps.234

Altmetric indicators

Cited by / Share

Licence

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

References

Panuganti, K.K.; Nguyen, M.; Kshirsagar, R.K. Obesity. StatPearls [Internet]. 2024. Available online: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459357/ (accessed on January 2024).

World Health Organization. Obesity and Overweight: Fact Sheet 311. WHO 2015. Available online: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/ (accessed on 2015).

World Health Organization. Depressive Disorder (Depression). WHO 2023. Available online: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression (accessed on 2023).

Luppino, F.S.; de Wit, L.M.; Bouvy, P.F.; et al. Overweight, Obesity, and Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal Studies. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 2010, 67, 220-229. doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.2

Pereira-Miranda, E.; Costa, P.R.F.; Queiroz, V.A.O.; Pereira-Santos, M.; Santana, M.L.P. Overweight and Obesity Associated with Higher Depression Prevalence in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J. Am. Coll. Nutr. 2017, 36, 223-233. doi:10.1080/07315724.2016.1261053

Faith, M.S.; Matz, P.E.; Jorge, M.A. Obesity-Depression Associations in the Population. J. Psychosom. Res. 2002, 53, 935-942. doi:10.1016/s0022-3999(02)00308-2

Frank, P.; Jokela, M.; Batty, G.D.; Lassale, C.; Steptoe, A.; Kivimäki, M. Overweight, Obesity, and Individual Symptoms of Depression: A Multicohort Study with Replication in UK Biobank. Brain Behav. Immun. 2022, 105, 192-200. doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2022.07.009

Dankel, S.J.; Loenneke, J.P.; Loprinzi, P.D. Mild Depressive Symptoms Among Americans in Relation to Physical Activity, Current Overweight/Obesity, and Self-Reported History of Overweight/Obesity. Int. J. Behav. Med. 2016, 23, 553-560. doi:10.1007/s12529-016-9541-3

Lv, N.; Kannampallil, T.; Xiao, L.; et al. Association Between User Interaction and Treatment Response of a Voice-Based Coach for Treating Depression and Anxiety: Secondary Analysis of a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Hum. Factors 2023, 10, Art. No: e49715. 2023. doi:10.2196/49715

Patsalos, O.; Keeler, J.; Schmidt, U.; Penninx, B.W.J.H.; Young, A.H.; Himmerich, H. Diet, Obesity, and Depression: A Systematic Review. J. Pers. Med. 2021, 11, Art. No: 176. doi:10.3390/jpm11030176

Kurhe, Y.; Mahesh, R. Mechanisms Linking Depression Co-morbid with Obesity: An Approach for Serotonergic Type 3 Receptor Antagonist as Novel Therapeutic Intervention. Asian J. Psychiatr. 2015, 17, 3-9. doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2015.07.007

Mello, A.F.; Mello, M.F.; Carpenter, L.L.; Price, L.H. Update on Stress and Depression: The Role of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis. Braz. J. Psychiatry 2003, 25, 231-238. doi:10.1590/s1516-44462003000400010

Incollingo Rodriguez, A.C.; Epel, E.S.; White, M.L.; Standen, E.C.; Seckl, J.R.; Tomiyama, A.J. Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Dysregulation and Cortisol Activity in Obesity: A Systematic Review. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2015, 62, 301-318. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.08.014

Felger, J.C. Role of Inflammation in Depression and Treatment Implications. Handb. Exp. Pharmacol. 2019, 250, 255-286. doi:10.1007/164_2018_166

Schmidt, F.M.; Weschenfelder, J.; Sander, C.; et al. Inflammatory cytokines in general and central obesity and modulating effects of physical activity. PLoS One 2015, 10(3): Art. No: e0121971. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0121971

Okifuji, A.; Hare, B.D. The association between chronic pain and obesity. J. Pain Res. 2015, 8, 399-408. doi:10.2147/JPR.S55598

Hitt, H.C.; McMillen, R.C.; Thornton-Neaves, T.; Koch, K.; Cosby, A.G. Comorbidity of obesity and pain in a general population: Results from the Southern Pain Prevalence Study. J. Pain 2007, 8(5), 430-436. doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2006.12.003

Stone, A.A.; Broderick, J.E. Obesity and pain are associated in the United States. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2012, 20(7), 1491-1495. doi:10.1038/oby.2011.397

Sheng, J.; Liu, S.; Wang, Y.; Cui, R.; Zhang, X. The Link between Depression and Chronic Pain: Neural Mechanisms in the Brain. Neural Plast. 2017, Art. No: 9724371. doi:10.1155/2017/9724371

Meerwijk, E.L.; Ford, J.M.; Weiss, S.J. Brain regions associated with psychological pain: Implications for a neural network and its relationship to physical pain. Brain Imaging Behav. 2013, 7(1), 1-14. doi:10.1007/s11682-012-9179-y

Cheiran Pereira, G.; Piton, E.; Moreira Dos Santos, B.; et al. Microglia and HPA axis in depression: An overview of participation and relationship. World J. Biol. Psychiatry 2022, 23(3), 165-182. doi:10.1080/15622975.2021.1939154

Tenk, J.; Mátrai, P.; Hegyi, P.; et al. In obesity, HPA axis activity does not increase with BMI, but declines with aging: A meta-analysis of clinical studies. PLoS One 2016, 11(11), Art. No: e0166842. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0166842

Fu, X.; Wang, Y.; Zhao, F.; et al. Shared biological mechanisms of depression and obesity: Focus on adipokines and lipokines. Aging (Albany NY) 2023, 15(12), 5917-5950. doi:10.18632/aging.204847

Brinkworth, G.D.; Buckley, J.D.; Noakes, M.; Clifton, P.M.; Wilson, C.J. Long-term effects of a very low-carbohydrate diet and a low-fat diet on mood and cognitive function. Arch. Intern. Med. 2009, 169(20), 1873-1880. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2009.329

Parletta, N.; Zarnowiecki, D.; Cho, J.; et al. A Mediterranean-style dietary intervention supplemented with fish oil improves diet quality and mental health in people with depression: A randomized controlled trial (HELFIMED). Nutr. Neurosci. 2019, 22(7), 474-487. doi:10.1080/1028415X.2017.1411320

Staudacher, H.M.; Teasdale, S.; Cowan, C.; Opie, R.; Rocks, T.; Jacka, F.N. Diet interventions for anxiety and depression. In Nutritional Psychiatry: A Primer for Clinicians; Dinan, T., Ed.; Cambridge University Press: 2023; pp. 72-100

Kaplan, B.J.; Crawford, S.G.; Field, C.J.; Simpson, J.S. Vitamins, minerals, and mood. Psychol. Bull. 2007, 133(5), 747-760. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.133.5.747

Kaplan, B.J.; Rucklidge, J.J.; Romijn, A.; McLeod, K. The Emerging Field of Nutritional Mental Health: Inflammation, the Microbiome, Oxidative Stress, and Mitochondrial Function. Clin. Psychol. Sci. 2015, 3(6), 964-980. doi:10.1177/2167702614555413

Parletta, N.; Milte, C.M.; Meyer, B.J. Nutritional modulation of cognitive function and mental health. J. Nutr. Biochem. 2013, 24(5), 725-743. doi:10.1016/j.jnutbio.2013.01.002

Fulton, S.; Décarie-Spain, L.; Fioramonti, X.; Guiard, B.; Nakajima, S. The menace of obesity to depression and anxiety prevalence. Trends Endocrinol. Metab. 2022, 33(1), 18-35. doi:10.1016/j.tem.2021.10.005

Osama, A.J.; Shehab, A.E.K. Psychological wellbeing and biochemical modulation in response to weight loss in obese type 2 diabetes patients. Afr. Health Sci. 2015, 15(2), 503-512. doi:10.4314/ahs.v15i2.25

Milano, W.; Ambrosio, P.; Carizzone, F.; et al. Depression and obesity: Analysis of common biomarkers. Diseases 2020, 8(2), Art. No: 23. doi:10.3390/diseases8020023

Bornstein, S.R.; Schuppenies, A.; Wong, M.L.; Licinio, J. Approaching the shared biology of obesity and depression: The stress axis as the locus of gene-environment interactions. Mol. Psychiatry 2006, 11(10), 892-902. doi:10.1038/sj.mp.4001873

Palinkas, L.A.; Lee, P.P.; Barrett-Connor, E. A prospective study of Type 2 diabetes and depressive symptoms in the elderly: The Rancho Bernardo Study. Diabetic Med. 2004, 21, 1185-1191. doi:10.1111/j.1464-5491.2004.01315.x

Eaton, W.W.; Armenian, H.; Gallo, J.; Pratt, L.; Ford, D.E. Depression and risk for onset of type II diabetes. A prospective population-based study. Diabetes Care 1996, 19(10), 1097-1102. doi:10.2337/diacare.19.10.1097

Ajilore, O.; Haroon, E.; Kumaran, S.; et al. Measurement of brain metabolites in patients with type 2 diabetes and major depression using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Neuropsychopharmacology 2007, 32(6), 1224-1231. doi:10.1038/sj.npp.1301248

Rosenberg, D.R.; Macmaster, F.P.; Mirza, Y.; et al. Reduced anterior cingulate glutamate in pediatric major depression: A magnetic resonance spectroscopy study. Biol. Psychiatry 2005, 58(9), 700-704. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2005.05.007

Michael, N.; Erfurth, A.; Ohrmann, P.; Arolt, V.; Heindel, W.; Pfleiderer, B. Neurotrophic effects of electroconvulsive therapy: A proton magnetic resonance study of the left amygdalar region in patients with treatment-resistant depression. Neuropsychopharmacology 2003, 28(4), 720-725. doi:10.1038/sj.npp.1300085

Michael, N.; Erfurth, A.; Ohrmann, P.; Arolt, V.; Heindel, W.; Pfleiderer, B. Metabolic changes within the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex occurring with electroconvulsive therapy in patients with treatment-resistant unipolar depression. Psychol. Med. 2003, 33(7), 1277-1284. doi:10.1017/s0033291703007931

Friedman, K.E.; Ashmore, J.A.; Applegate, K.L. Recent experiences of weight-based stigmatization in a weight loss surgery population: Psychological and behavioral correlates. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2008, 16(Suppl 2), S69-S74. doi:10.1038/oby.2008.457

Sarwer, D.B.; Fabricatore, A.N.; Eisenberg, M.H.; Sywulak, L.A.; Wadden, T.A. Correction to: Self-reported stigmatization among candidates for bariatric surgery. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2010, 18(4), Art. No: 652. doi:10.1038/oby.2009.484

Carpenter, K.M.; Hasin, D.S.; Allison, D.B.; Faith, M.S. Relationships between obesity and DSM-IV major depressive disorder, suicide ideation, and suicide attempts: Results from a general population study. Am. J. Public Health 2000, 90(2), 251-257. doi:10.2105/ajph.90.2.251

Guerrini Usubini, A.; Bottacchi, M.; Bondesan, A.; et al. Emotional and behavioral impairment and comorbid eating disorder symptoms in adolescents with obesity: A cross-sectional study. J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(7), Art. No: 2068. doi:10.3390/jcm13072068

Lee, Y.H.; Liu, Z.; Fatori, D.; et al. Association of everyday discrimination with depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic in the All of Us Research Program. JAMA Psychiatry 2022, 79(9), 898-906. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.1973

Wang, Y.; Liao, J.; Chen, H.; Tao, L.; Liu, J. Association of perceived discrimination with the risk of depression among US older adults: A prospective population-based cohort study. Heliyon 2023, 10(1), Art. No: e23843. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23843

Mahindru, A.; Patil, P.; Agrawal, V. Role of physical activity on mental health and well-being: A review. Cureus 2023, 15(1), e33475. doi:10.7759/cureus.33475

WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour: At a glance. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2020. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.

Codella, R.; Chirico, A. Physical Inactivity and Depression: The Gloomy Dual with Rising Costs in a Large-Scale Emergency. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(2), Art. No: 1603. doi:10.3390/ijerph20021603

Raiman, L.; Amarnani, R.; Abdur-Rahman, M.; Marshall, A.; Mani-Babu, S. The role of physical activity in obesity: let's actively manage obesity. Clin. Med. (Lond.) 2023, 23(4), 311-317. doi:10.7861/clinmed.2023-0152

Carraça, E.V.; Encantado, J.; Battista, F.; et al. Effect of exercise training on psychological outcomes in adults with overweight or obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes. Rev. 2021, 22(Suppl 4), e13261. doi:10.1111/obr.13261

Gualdi-Russo, E.; Rinaldo, N.; Zaccagni, L. Physical Activity and Body Image Perception in Adolescents: A Systematic Review. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(20), 13190. doi:10.3390/ijerph192013190

Zaccagni, L.; Gualdi-Russo, E. The Impact of Sports Involvement on Body Image Perception and Ideals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(6), 5228. doi:10.3390/ijerph20065228

Singh, B.; Olds, T.; Curtis, R.; et al. Effectiveness of physical activity interventions for improving depression, anxiety and distress: an overview of systematic reviews. Br. J. Sports Med. 2023, 57(18), 1203-1209. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2022-106195

Huang, J.H.; Li, R.H.; Tsai, L.C. Relationship between Depression with Physical Activity and Obesity in Older Diabetes Patients: Inflammation as a Mediator. Nutrients 2022, 14(19), 4200. doi:10.3390/nu14194200

Pojednic, R.; D'Arpino, E.; Halliday, I.; Bantham, A. The Benefits of Physical Activity for People with Obesity, Independent of Weight Loss: A Systematic Review. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(9), 4981. doi:10.3390/ijerph19094981

Xu, P.; Huang, Y.; Hou, Q.; et al. Relationship between physical activity and mental health in a national representative cross-section study: Its variations according to obesity and comorbidity. J. Affect. Disord. 2022, 308, 484-493. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2022.04.037

Foley Davelaar, C.M. Body Image and its Role in Physical Activity: A Systematic Review. Cureus 2021, 13(2), e13379. doi:10.7759/cureus.13379

Chen, L.; Liu, Q.; Xu, F.; et al. Effect of physical activity on anxiety, depression and obesity index in children and adolescents with obesity: A meta-analysis. J. Affect. Disord. 2024, 354, 275-285. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2024.02.092

Pearce, M.; Garcia, L.; Abbas, A.; et al. Association Between Physical Activity and Risk of Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry 2022, 79(6), 550-559. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.0609

Curtis, R.G.; Prichard, I.; Gosse, G.; Stankevicius, A.; Maher, C.A. Hashtag fitspiration: credibility screening and content analysis of Instagram fitness accounts. BMC Public Health 2023, 23(1), 421. doi:10.1186/s12889-023-15232-7

Jerónimo, F.; Carraça, E.V. Effects of fitspiration content on body image: a systematic review. Eat. Weight Disord. 2022, 27(8), 3017-3035. doi:10.1007/s40519-022-01505-4