Obesity Medicine

Mental Illness & Obesity

Digital Media, Mental Health and Stigma

Several research studies have found that obesity is linked to mood and anxiety disorders. This means that if you are obese, you may be more likely to suffer from a mental health condition like depression or anxiety or Bipolar disorder.

Obesity develops from a combination of environmental effects and genotype, both of which can present as heightened risk factors in people with mental illness. Obesity brings with it higher risks of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, which can also affect psychological well-being. Subsequently, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services, people with mental illness die 25 years earlier than those people without mental illness due to obesity-related conditions. The nature of the relationship between obesity and mental health differs from person to person.