The scientific community is at odds when it comes to establishing a link between obesity and depression and it difficult to say which is cause and which is effect. It is widely accepted that overeating and a lack of exercise are the primary causes of obesity. Experts cannot agree however on which comes first, depression or obesity?
Despite the fact that it is difficult to establish a link between obesity and depression, simply because there are so many forms of depression, one study between 2005 and 2006 did conclude that there was a link between obesity in women and depression. If one takes the study data however and views it against the wider picture of depression and obesity it really is not easy to see just what sort of a connection was really established.
The problems that these disorders pose to us as a society are great. Typically treated with a wide variety of expensive drugs, depression means dependence on medication for millions of Americans for years at a time. This means spending billions of dollars annually on antidepressants which has an enormous economic impact on the country. The cost of obesity is almost enormous and this of course is not simply in terms of the cost of such things as weight loss surgery and follow-up medical treatment following surgery.
Even though we have not really been able to establish a form connection between obesity and depression the two conditions are a powerful force in combination and you cannot help but wonder what effect they are going to have on us as a society a few years from now. Setting aside the cost for example we must ask just how they are going to impact our lives personally.
Nowadays the numbers are so enormous that everyone knows someone, whether within their own family or a friend or work colleague, who is either obese or clinically depressed. And don't forget that it doesn't stop there. These illnesses, which can lead to such things as suicide, effect partners, children, parents and others and touch the large of just about everyone in society.
Doctors and health experts opinions vary widely and of course it is ultimately up to the individual to decide whether or not to take advantage of the prevention and treatment methods available to them. Despite this, the combined effects of obesity and depression will lead us into real trouble if we are not careful. As a society therefore we must come up with a plan to deal with these conditions before they swamp us.
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