Obese people who take part in weight loss programs involving exercise and lifestyle changes may see an improvement in their depression, according to a new review.
The researchers reviewed a collection of 31 different studies which had looked at weight loss programs and their effect on depression.
The weight loss programs varied, but included diet-only, exercise-only and programs based around counseling and behavioral change. Some patients also took medication to aid their weight loss, while others received no treatment. In all, the studies included about 8,000 people.
The researchers involved in the original 31 studies scored the participants' depression symptoms before and after their weight loss programs and noted how much weight they had lost.
As a whole, people in almost every kind of weight loss program not based on medication had an improvement in their mood, with those programs including some type of lifestyle modification providing the most benefit.
Treatments involving medication, however, did not improve mood. How much weight the individual lost also did not influence mood.
The authors emphasize that they do not know if their findings can be applied to those with clinical depression since they did not attempt to determine whether patients had any psychiatric diagnoses.
Possible reasons for the mood improvements observed could be an improved body image, the social support received from other people or improvements in health and fitness.
The study was published online on February 22, 2011 in the International Journal of Obesity.
Approximately two years ago I began a weight loss program. All said and done I lost 50 pounds. This was a major breakthrough regarding my depression. I felt and looked better and as I lost the weight I was able to exercise more and this has been a great therapy for me. I have been on and off of SSRI’s for many years and this method has been the most productive by far. I have not been on medication for over two years.
I would never substitute any kind of other option than medication to assist in helping with extreme depression.
I was exercising daily,getting the mood lift,but it was not taking the depression away. I had to have a medication change and wait for the new ones to start working. Now because of medication and stopping smoking,I find it very difficult to lose weight even though I exercise regularly and do do a diet program,but I know if I was to lose weight it would most certainly lift my mood a great deal.
I will add that despite needing medical intervention,I could not live without exercise-I love it and it does make me feel better but not to the point where it takes away my depression completely.
I think these kinds of studies only ought to apply to those that are mildly depressed and not to those who,like myself,was severely depressed. I think researches like this have to be very cautious and wary of who they involve as participants and make sure a thorough examination on each persons mental health is done first.
But bravo for the participants that lost the weight and their mood improved without the need for medication. But,again,these studies must be seriously monitored and not taken lightly.
Weight loss and depression definitely are linked. Exercise and learning to eat clean have been shown in research studies to play a major role in depressive symptoms.
When I battled my own depression, exercise played a major role in allowing me to cope with my symptoms. Plus, reading great sites gave me the motivation and advice I needed.
allthingsdepression.com