Scientists have stated that obesity is closely linked to the development of not only physical problems, but mental disorders, particularly depression. About this close connection between excess body weight and depression discovered by scientists, writes the journal International Journal of Epidemiology.
“Excess weight affects not only on physical but also on mental health and often leads to depression”, is given in the publication output of authors, researchers from the University of South Australia and Exeter University.
To identify the relationship between obesity and depression, researchers used data of UK Biobank, which stores information about 500 thousands people. They analyzed clinical data from more than 48 thousand patients suffering from depression, and data from more than 290 thousand people without depression included in the control group. This analysis showed that between obesity and this disorder there is a high correlation.
“With the increase in body mass index for every 4.7 kg/m? the likelihood of developing depression increases by 18% for all people, regardless of gender and age,” postulated scientific experts.
In favor of the opinion that excess weight may be closely associated with depression, according to the data of the genetic analysis research participants. Specialists have studied the relationship between the 73 genes associated with obesity, depression and diabetes. They concluded eventually that the extra weight causes associated with depression as much as with the probability of developing diabetes.
Magicforum previously wrote about the fact that scientists have made a paradoxical conclusion that obesity can help the body fight cancer.