How Overcoming Depression Can Lead to Weight Loss in Women

Though depression is common in both men and women, statistically it affects the fairer sex more. Research is underway to know why it is so. Apart from pain and mental stress, depression in women hampers their normal life to a great extent. Several studies in the recent times have proved the relationship between depression and weight gain. So, is the contrary equally true? Does overcoming depression lead to weight loss in women?

How Overcoming Depression Can Lead to Weight Loss in Women
Obesity and depression form a vicious circle. Presence of excess weight in the body makes a person suffer from poor self-image. Social stigma associated with unfit people worsen the condition. As these people experience rejection from various corners of the society, they become more lonely and aloof. Such a change in lifestyle cause faster degradation of mental health in women compared to men.

Similarly, depressed women desperately seek unhealthy ways of being happy. One of the quickest and easily available means for them is to eat fast foods. A sedentary lifestyle compels them to become physically inactive. All these activities in turn cause further weight gain.

Unfortunately, the drugs meant for treating depression and obesity come along with several side-effects. In most of the cases, they are partially effective in treating the condition, but bring down the physical and mental health of the patients considerably. Lack of credibility of these drugs is also an annoying factor about them.

The complex biology of women owing to their ability to conceive make their body and mind more vulnerable to depression and weight gain. In the same way, efforts placed to naturally treat one condition brings improvement in the other condition.

A strong will to regain physical fitness, a schedule in place for regular exercise, intake of fresh vegetables, fruits and lots of water results in natural loss of body weight. A presentable body figure boosts self-confidence and encourages women to directly deal with the factors responsible for the sorry state of affairs in their lives.

An important aspect to understand about weight loss and feeling blue is that it is natural to experience them at some point or the other in a woman’s life. Events like menstrual cycle and pregnancy do cause mood swings and changes in the weight of the body. Things become worrisome only when these conditions take place chronically and persist for long. The relationship between overcoming depression and experiencing weight loss is different in younger and older women.

Younger women regain their emotional balance and come out of depression easily. A positive frame of mind coupled with the confidence of beating depression boosts them to take care of their figure as well. This mental development ultimately resolves their weight related issues as well.

But, the crises are deep for older women. Factors like the death of a spouse, moving from work into retirement and chronic illness can leave the aged women emotionally weak. These factors make them severely depressed. Lack of physical strength restricts their ability to remain physically active. This adds to either weight gain or undesirable loss of weight owing to malnutrition. Such people deserve extra care of their loved ones. Emotional support, engagement with one mental activity or the other and carrying out simple physical workout can keep even the aged women immune from depression and unnecessary weight loss.

Conclusion: Commenting on the outcomes of the research study, experts from University of Washington, Seattle, said that screening and overcoming of depression should be made a part of weight loss programs.