Obesity and Mental Health Disorders Linked?

A study shows that obesity is ‘dangerously linked’ to mental illness, according to researchers from University of Toronto and Women’s College Hospital in Toronto, Canada. They detailed that obesity can be triggered by mental illness and vice versa, and it can be complicated by mix of neurobiological, psychological and socioeconomic factors. It is to note that both conditions are very stigmatizing, and having both conditions place a great burden on the patient.

 

Medication sometimes a contributing factor?

The researchers mention that several factors tend to associate obesity to mental illness. They noted that although there is a national awareness program about obesity, cases of bulging waistlines continues to rise per year. The reason for this rise could be the failure of the authorities to adequately address the issue of mental illness, which also rose recently through the years.

It is also good to note that several antipsychotic and mood stabilizing drugs induce weight gain. It could be a contributing factor to the increasing rate of obesity per year. However, experts say that it is only a single contributing factor.

The study made use of previous studies and noted some factors and underlying mechanisms that associate obesity to psychiatric disorders. Here are some:

• People with depression and bipolar-spectrum disorders often disrupt appetite, motivation, energy and sleep. This either reduces the person’s metabolism or induces food bingeing
• Depression is associated with smoking and drinking – activities that disrupt dopamine mechanisms (reward center of the brain), increasing cortisol levels and abnormal levels of leptin and adiponectin. This tends to associate food as reward, so individuals eat more than they burn.
• Schizophrenia can dysregulate glucose metabolism and adrenergic activity, which drives up fat deposition
• Children with ADHD often eat poorly, because they have problem focusing on eating healthy meals. This makes them at risk of gaining too much body weight
• Individuals with ADHD also engage in less physical activities like sports compared to their healthy peers
• Individuals with history of sexual and physical abuse often have higher body-mass index (BMI) and waist circumference when they reach adulthood. Possible causes include increased cortisol levels, which is a stress hormone.

Researchers also note the association of obesity and mental illness to low socioeconomic status and unemployment. Those with less income have fewer resources to devote to treatment and management medical conditions, like mental disorders. Those people diagnosed with mental illness or have a history of it often have difficulty looking for a job.

 

The role of weight loss industry

The multi-billion weight loss industry only compounds to the problem because most of them go on unregulated, according to the researchers. Obese people are considered a vulnerable group, because they are desperate to finding quick-fix solution. The same can be said among individuals with mental disorders.

Heavy marketing and promotions by weight loss companies in selling products to these groups only exacerbates the problem, because the effectiveness of their methods are not proven and may do only more harm. Several ‘herbal’ products brought in the internet contain illicit stimulants or actual drugs, while crash diets don’t induce weight loss in long-term. In short, weight loss industry seems to exacerbate the problem

 

 

Mental health and obesity must be treated altogether

Researchers recommend that practitioners should check and manage both disorders, with help from other specialists if needed. Multi-disciplinary approach should be freely considered. Mental-health experts may also find it useful to familiarize themselves with obesity treatments, so at least they have basic competencies regarding the condition. It would also help if they consider modest and non-pharmacological treatments first, then resorting to drugs only if absolutely needed and after examination for possible comorbidities.

The study is available in the January issue of Canadian Journal of Psychiatry.

 

 

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