Obesity may cause depression – The New Indian Express

by IANS

LONDON: Overweight and obese people may be at risk of depression, even in the absence of other health problems, warns new research.

The research, published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, showed that the psychological impact of being overweight causes depression.

"Our research shows that being overweight does not just increase the risks of cancer and it can also lead to depression," said study co-author Elina Hypponen, Professor at the University of South Australia.

For the study, the researchers looked at UK Biobank data from more than 48,000 people with depression, comparing them with a control group of more than 290,000 people born between 1938 and 1971, who provided medical and genetic information.

Hospital data and self-reporting were used to determine whether people had depression.

The team used a genetic research approach to explore the causal link between the two conditions.

BMI but lower risk of the disease is associated with the incidence of obesity.

"These genes were just as strongly associated with depression as those with higher BMI and diabetes." "This suggests that being overweight causes depression both", Hypponen said.

"Our robust genetic analysis concludes that the psychological impact of being able to cause depression is important," said Jess Tyrrell of the University. of Exeter Medical School in Britain.