Psychological Factors in Obesity and Their Effect

Psychological factors in obesity can be very influential.

Interestingly, it's a two-way street:

• Depression can lead to obesity.
• Obesity can lead to depression.

Unfortunately, this cycle can just continue to build until the person is unable to overcome both the depression and the obesity.

When considering psychological factors in obesity, let's first consider how depression can lead to obesity.

When people who are depressed earned a food for comfort, they may have various associations with food that make them feel better.

Example:

• Chocolate chip cookies may remind them of Grandma's house.
• Mashed potatoes may make them think of Sunday dinners growing up.
• Chips and ice cream may remind them of sleepovers with girlfriends when they were in high school.

By eating these particular foods, they are remembering a happier time.

Unfortunately, turning to food to face depression can lead to obesity.

Often foods chosen as comfort foods are not low in calories or fat, so they can result in weight gains.

A very short-term solution to the problem (the comfort in comfort foods doesn't usually last beyond the meal itself), can result in a long-term problem; one which will just increase the depression as the individual feels guilty for gaining weight and is increasingly unhappy with their appearance.

This leads us to the other side of the coin for psychological factors in obesity -- obesity leading to depression.

Our society places a high value on looking a particular way and that often includes being very thin and fit.

When people don't fit into this mold they develop self-esteem and body image issues that can lead to depression.

The cycle of depression and obesity can spin out of control; as the depression leads to eating, which leads to obesity, which leads to deeper depression.

Fortunately, a solution to both issues exist.

Depression is well recognized now and there are a number of therapists available to help individuals deal with depression.

There are also a number of successful antidepressant medications on the market that have helped many people overcome depression.

• Take antidepressant medications such as:
  Celexa

  Effexor XR

  Elavil

  Fluoxetine

  Lexapro

  Paxil

  Paxil CR

  Prozac

  Remeron

  Wellbutrin

  Wellbutrin SR

  Zoloft

• Take anti-anxiety medications such as:
  Buspar
• Talk with a counselor about how to cope with your illness.
• Talk with your family and friends about your feelings.
• Join a support group. This is a group of people who also have depression.
• You can also contact one of the following for more information:
• National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression.

  60 Cutter Mill Road, Suite 404.

  Great Neck, NY 11021.

  Phone: 1 -- 516 -- 829 -- 0091.

  Web address: H. CTP://www.mhsource.com/narsad.

• National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.

  Colonial Place 3, 2107, Wilson Boulevard, Suite 300.

  Arlington, VA 22201.

  Phone: 1 -- 703 -- 524 -- 7600

  Web address: http://www.nami.org.

• Incorporate a proven, complete nutritional program into your daily life.
• Enhance your nutritional program with a complete mutivitamin supplement because no nutritional program is perfect.
• Use a behavior modification and motivational program that will help you stay on track with your nutritional plan.
• Exercise at home with your own:
  Treadmill

  Stairstepper

  Exercise bike

  Elliptical trainer

  Hand weights or

  An aerobic video.

• See what kinds of weight loss aids your health insurance covers such as:
  Hypnotism

  Gym membership discounts

  Nutritional counseling.

• Try a new low calorie recipe for dinner.
• Pack your lunch so you don't have to buy something unhealthy.
• Eat a healthy snack at home before you go out for dinner or to a party so you'll avoid filling up on appetizers.
• Watch for fruits and vegetables when they come into season and buy fresh... You'll love their peak flavor.
• Place a favorite outfit that doesn't fit anymore in view... Seeing it often will keep you motivated.
• Put pictures of yourself that your ideal weight on the refrigerator to keep you moving toward your goal.
• Let family and friends know that you're trying to lose weight, so they can help you meet your goals and avoid tempting you with unhealthy foods.

With the right methods, you can conquer your psychological factors in obesity and be on your way to a fit lifestyle.

It is never too late to begin.

Each day that you put off is another day that will bring you closer to more complications in your life.

Complications such as the psychological factors in obesity you deal with every day!

Even if you have depression, you can conquer your weight issues!

Isn't it time you do something about it starting right now?