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People who are ‘fat but happy’ are more likely the exception rather than the rule. Obesity appears to be linked to a raised risk of depression according to new research published in the Archives of General Psychiatry. In fact, obesity increases the risk of developing depression over time by as much as 55% in some people.

What’s the correlation?

Obesity, if considered to be an inflammatory state, this state can enhance the risk of depression. It contributes to body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem which in turn places individuals at increased risk for depression. Conversely, depression may increase weight over time through interference with the endocrine system or the adverse effects of antidepressant medications.

Obesity, defined as a body mass index of 30 or higher, increases the likelihood of major depression by 25%. Although the risk of depression over a lifetime is about 20%, the study indicated that it can go up to 55% in people who are obese, a statistically significant difference. In fact, one expert even suggested that the two conditions are bi-directional and so inter-linked. In addition, increased desire to eat and weight gain are common symptoms of depression. Also, medications prescribed for depression or anxiety disorders can encourage weight gain.

Can this shorten life spans?

Both depression and obesity are wide spread problems and both come with major public health implications. Because of the high prevalence of both these conditions, and the fact that they both carry an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, it has been presumed that a person’s life span is affected by both of them.

It is a well established fact that the loss of self-esteem is associated with the stigma of obesity; this can contribute to depression, especially among women. In addition, excess weight increases the risk of psychological problems, because it also increases your risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, kidney disease and cancer. If obesity and depression are left unchecked, health experts fear that it could lead to a general decline in the life expectancy of people suffering from both health conditions, so in case of obesity people must consult a doctor for proper weight loss treatment.