Depression, Insulin Resistance, and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Often Accompany Obesity

In a small percentage of the population, mental disorders can be a major cause of developing obesity. Overstressed, depressed, and anxious individuals can apply to overeating in order to compensate for their psychological problems, mental disturbances, and low self-esteem. However, in most overweight people, depression and other mental disorders either accompany or follow weight gain, while the key cause of gaining weight is a wrong choice of food, namely, a drastic overconsumption of carbohydrates, synthetic foods, and chemically-processed vegetable oils.

Insulin resistance is a frequent underlying cause for developing weight problems. A long-term diet full of carbohydrates in any form, including cereals, juices, pasta, and breads, leads to a damage in the physiological mechanism of carbohydrate metabolism, which in turn causes the chronic conversion of dietary sugars into body fats instead of quick energy. The condition of insulin resistance is often accompanied by a lack of energy, mood disturbances, emotional overeating, and a carbohydrate addiction. Excess glucose and elevated levels of insulin further disrupt the healthy metabolism and in time result in a full-blown obesity.

If left unchecked, insulin resistance can lead to a whole host of dangerous diseases, including cardiovascular disease, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in women, and type II diabetes. Heart attacks and strokes occur most often in people with Syndrome X - a metabolic disorder related to high levels of insulin. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a condition associated with female hormonal imbalances. It often causes additional weight gain, skin problems, infertility, excess facial hair, scalp hair loss, and depression. On top, insulin resistance, if neglected, can result in Type II diabetes - a chronic and incurable disease that significantly increases the risks of developing kidney damage, blindness, and a number of other serious conditions.

Overweight often creates emotional problems. A poor diet, loaded with sugars and junk foods, lack of exercise, long hours in front of TV, and age, hormonal, or lifestyle-related metabolic disorders (insulin resistance, hypothyroidism, menopause, etc.) create a vicious cycle by making the person more overweight and, consequently, more depressed. According to several studies conduced by the American Psychiatric Association, depression is often observed in overweight and especially obese people. In fact, the risk for developing a mental illness in the form of an anxiety or mood disorder, including depression, is 25 percent higher in obese populations than in people with normal weight.

Depression often manifests as lethargy and creates a significant emotional strain, which further prevents overweight people from engaging in exercise or eating a healthy diet. Social stigma, attached to obese people, and frequent discrimination, combined with self-blame, aggravates the symptoms of depression. Cravings for carbohydrates that stimulate the release of the “feel-good” hormone serotonin become more pronounced in people suffering from depression, which causes even more problems with excess weight.

Drastic dietary changes and a strict limitation of dietary carbohydrates to about 30 grams a day should become the first step for overweight people to regain back their health, cure depression, and prevent developing of diabetes and other devastating conditions of our modern age. Any laboratory-produced and processed foods should be strictly avoided. A support network and a moderate amount of exercise, preferably in the form of a daily walk, yoga, and other calming activities, should complement the change in diet. Obese people should also consider natural vitamin and mineral supplementation - a consumption of unprocessed sea salt, cod liver oil, ocean-caught fatty fish, as well as raw whole milk, natural butter, and organ meats from pastured ruminant animals.

John Henton