Is there a Relationship Between Weight and Mental Health?
Let’s examine the Relationship Between Weight and Mental Health. There are many aspects of your physical health that play a part in your mental health. The quality of your diet, your exercise regime, and your stress levels are just a few of the most important factors. Your weight is another vital consideration. In fact, perhaps you’ve noticed a correlation between your weight and your mental health. Both of these are common concerns amongst Americans. On average, over 87% of adults are dissatisfied with their bodies, and 21% of adults live with a mental illness.
Indeed, the two are closely linked, but not necessarily in the way, you may assume. Read on to learn more about the relationship between weight and mental health — and how you can take control of both.
Understanding the Difference Between Causation and Correlation
When examining the relationship between weight and mental health, it’s important to remember the difference between correlation and causation. Although there is a strong link between depression and excess weight, for example, it would be incorrect to say that one causes the other. There is insufficient evidence to clearly establish a cause-and-effect relationship between the two phenomena, so this is merely a correlation.
What exactly constitutes clear causation, then? Causation refers to an event that produces another event — in other words, the latter would not occur without the former. Correlation, on the other hand, refers to two events that seem to share a relationship — such as weight loss and alleviation of depressive symptoms — but that doesn’t necessarily share direct causation. Differentiating between correlation and causation is important because effective mental health treatment relies on identifying the latter.
This is why it’s incorrect to assume that excess weight “causes” depression or vice versa. In reality, although a correlation may exist, it’s likely because both phenomena are caused by serotonergic or dopaminergic dysfunction. You can get to the root of the problem by working with a mental health provider in Clarksville or Nashville who can help you overcome these struggles.
Weight Loss Isn’t Necessarily a Good Thing
One of the most common misconceptions people have is that weight loss is an inherently good thing. Indeed, if you’ve ever shed a few pounds, you may have been met with an influx of compliments about how great you look. Though these comments are usually well-meaning, they rarely take into account that stress and trauma are commonly associated with weight loss.
It’s important to highlight, then, the fact that weight loss is not an inherently good thing. On the contrary, it can be indicative of deteriorating mental health — especially if a person has recently experienced a traumatic event. If you’re losing weight quickly and struggling to nourish yourself properly, your weight loss is not a positive thing. It’s a sign that you likely need to seek out mental health treatment in Tennessee.
Still, it can be difficult to tune out all of the positive feedback you hear as your frame gets smaller. If it is increasingly difficult to take care of yourself in the aftermath of trauma in Nashville — or if you’re struggling with stress, depression, or anxiety in Clarksville — you need to pay attention to both your mental and physical health. Seeking out treatment can help you address your symptoms and find a solution that works.
Weight Gain Isn’t Necessarily a Bad Thing
Just as weight loss isn’t necessarily a good thing, it must be noted that weight gain isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, for a person who has struggled with an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia, it may be a good thing — and a sign that they are in recovery. Unfortunately, though, weight gain is often stigmatized, which may cause stress even when it’s unwarranted.
Positive changes may be the cause of weight gain. One study conducted at the University of North Carolina found that couples who are satisfied with their relationship are the most likely to gain weight. This aligns with the idea that we are likely to gain weight when we are content in life.
Contrary to popular belief, weight gain may even coincide with improvements in your mental health. If you are exercising regularly, for example, you may gain weight due to an increase in muscle mass — but the positive effects of exercise are likely to provide relief from many of the most common symptoms of mental health challenges.
Excess Weight Can Increase Rates of Depression
While weight gain and loss might both have either beneficial or adverse effects, the relationship between excessive weight and mental health issues cannot be dismissed.. Many studies confirm that there is a link between obesity and issues such as the following:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Substance abuse
- Eating disorders
This link may be further exacerbated by the association between trauma and weight gain. Additionally, excess weight is known to increase the risk of many physical ailments, including:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Some cancers
- Sleep apnea
- Heart disease
- Stroke
Some experts have hypothesized that the mental health issues associated with obesity are a consequence of the stigma rather than physical causation. Social prejudice may certainly be a contributing factor, but research counters this idea by demonstrating a link between excess weight and low serotonin levels. The two phenomena appear to be connected, confirming that they are inextricably linked. It is still unclear, however, if one directly causes the other.
If you are struggling simultaneously with depression and weight, then, medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in Clarksville may help. This class of antidepressants works by preventing the absorption of serotonin and making more of it available in the brain. Serotonin allows you to regulate eating habits and enjoy a better sense of well-being, so an SSRI may help you address both.
Some Medications May Cause Weight Fluctuations
Certain antidepressants can cause fluctuations in weight. You might expect your weight to stabilize as your mental health improves, but if you’re taking a new medication, that isn’t always the case. The antidepressants listed below have been linked with weight loss in some patients.
- Wellbutrin (bupropion)
- Prozac (fluoxetine)
- Cymbalta (duloxetine)
Interestingly, weight gain is a common side effect of many antidepressants, rather than weight loss. The medications most commonly associated with weight gain include the following:
- Elavil (amitriptyline)
- Remeron (mirtazapine)
- Paxil (paroxetine)
- Celexa (citalopram)
- Zoloft (sertraline)
- Lexapro (escitalopram)
Although these medications are associated with weight gain, it’s important to note that 75% of people who take antidepressants do not report weight gain as a side effect. If you start taking a medication and find that you do put on a few pounds, it isn’t always a cause for concern. As long as you are still in a healthy weight range, you shouldn’t worry about minor fluctuations.
If you are particularly concerned about how a medication may impact your weight, though, you should discuss this with your mental health provider in Nashville or Clarksville. Find the one best suited for your concerns by working with a qualified professional.
Getting Help for Your Mental and Physical Health
There is a myriad of environmental factors that can influence your mental health — and the same is true of your weight. Although the two often influence each other, sometimes the weight and mental health are not related at all. Your weight may fluctuate with no relation to your mental health. And your mental health may fluctuate with no impact on your weight. Life events, major changes, and shifts in your lifestyle can independently impact both of these aspects of your health.
When weight or mental health becomes an obstacle to your wellbeing, though, it’s time to get help. This is especially true if you’re living with a mental health issue such as anxiety in Clarksville or obsessive-compulsive disorder in Nashville. A psychiatric provider can help you overcome these challenges and reclaim happiness. You deserve to be well, and a mental health provider can help you achieve this.
Similarly, if you are struggling with your weight and want to find solutions. You should schedule an appointment with your primary care provider. They will be able to help you formulate a treatment plan and achieve the health and wellbeing that you seek.
Take Care of Your Weight and Mental Health
Understanding the relationship between your weight and your mental health can help you improve both. If either or both of these issues hinder your wellbeing, there’s help available to overcome these challenges.. A mental health professional in Nashville can help you overcome the obstacles associated with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, or anxiety. In addition, this will give you the tools to take better care of your health.
If you’re looking for medication management and mental health services in Clarksville, Nashville, and throughout Tennessee. Rose Behavioral Health can help. We offer telehealth appointments and flexible scheduling so that you can get the care you need. Reach out to one of our providers for more information.
