Transcript Ahmed H Battikh: College of Arts and Sciences

Depression and Obesity:
Does Depression Cause Obesity, or Obesity Cause Depression, or Both?
Ahmed H Battikh: College of Arts and Sciences and Honors College.
Faculty mentor: Diane Verrill, Department of Political Science,
College of Arts and Sciences, and Honors College.
BACKGROUND
There is evidence to support the argument that obesity causes
depression. However, is it also possible that depression causes obesity?
The purpose of this study is to consider whether or not depression causes
obesity.
METHODOLOGY
This research will conduct a longitudinal study using survey research to
explore whether or not depression causes obesity. There are many factors
that could lead to obesity from depression, either in a direct or indirect
way. I will concentrate my survey research on two indirect factors, antidepressant medications and body temperature levels, and one direct factor,
eating habits during depression.
This survey will be conducted on a sample of students at the University
of North Texas. A random sample of 50 students will be interviewed every
two months for one year. The survey questions will be short, clear, and
precise.
REFERENCE
Blaine, Bruce. "Does Depression Cause Obesity?: A Meta-Analysis of
Longitudinal Studies of Depression and Weight Control." Journal of
Health Psychology 13.8 (2008): 1190-7. Web.
Goldfield, Gary S., et al. "Body Dissatisfaction, Dietary Restraint,
Depression, and Weight Status in Adolescents." The Journal of School
Health 80.4 (2010): 186-92. Web
Hilton, Carol. "Study Charts Depression Drop and Weight Loss." Medical
Post 38.35 (2002): 27. Web.
Images:
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FURTHER READINGS
Grady, Meghan M. "Obesity in the Psychiatric Population." 07; 2012/3
2010 Health Reference Center Academic; Gale. Web.
Rosmond, R., and P. Björntorp. "The Role of Antidepressants in the
Treatment of Abdominal Obesity." Medical hypotheses 54.6 (2000):
990-4. Web.
Stunkard, Albert J., Myles S. Faith, and Kelly C. Allison. "Depression
and Obesity." Biological psychiatry 54.3 (2003): 330-7. Web.
Wales, John K. "Drug Treatment in Obesity." Practical Diabetes
International 19.1 (2002): 25-7. Web.
LITERATURE REVIEW
SURVEY QUESTIONS
Have you ever been depressed?
Yes
No
Agreements and Disagreements in the Literature
Agreements
There is some agreement that obesity could cause depression. Hilton (27) suggests that the patient’s
unhappiness about their weight causes them to enter into a mode of depression. She shows that after
reducing the weight of the patient, depression scores improve and there are better results among the
successful patients. Additionally, the researcher found that depressed patients avoided the need for
medications (Hilton 27). Goldfield et al. (190) state that weight status affects the anhedonia subscale, the
negative self-esteem scale, and the total CDI depression scores. Their study found that obesity in youth can
lead to depression (Goldfield et al. 187). Blaine (1191) confirms that many studies have found that the
obese are twice as likely to be depressed. However, he suggests that other studies have not found a
longitudinal relationship between obesity and later depression and he goes on to state that, in the long-term,
no relationship between depression and obesity have been found.
Disagreements
While there is some agreement, there is also disagreement surrounding the debate that depression could
cause obesity. Hilton’s (27) study found that the improvements in depression did not correlate with weight
loss. However, Goldfield et al. (187) show that “the social stigma associated with obesity is believed to
engender shame, guilt and intense feelings of body dissatisfaction.” Moreover, “a negative body image also
serves as the impetus to engage in strict dieting and unhealthy eating and weight control practices. [D]ietary
restraint has also been cross-sectionally associated with obesity and is predictive of future weight gain in
youth” (Goldfield et al., Page 187). They, therefore, conclude that depression from body image could cause
obesity. Blaine (1190) directly asks the question “Does Depression Cause Obesity?” His study focuses
specifically on whether depression causes obesity (or not). Blaine (1191) states that “depressed compared to
nondepressed people were at significantly higher risk for developing obesity.” The study also finds that “the
effect of negative moods on eating was moderated by dieting status: dieters ate more when depressed than
when nondepressed and the reverse was true for nondieters” (Blaine 1191).
Comparison
The three articles relate obesity and depression using a variety of studies, research methods, and
participants. There are both agreements and disagreements on the effect of obesity on depression. Hilton
(27) did not find support for the argument that depression causes obesity. Goldfield et al. (187) showed that
dissatisfaction with one’s body image causes obesity through strict dieting. Blaine (1191) suggested that
dieters will eat more when depressed, The results of these three studies suggest that more research needs to
be conducted to explore the relationship between depression and obesity.
Did you take
anti-depressant
medications for
your depression?
Yes
No
Did your body
temperature
increase/decrease
while depressed?
Yes
No
Did you
become obese
from taking
these
medications?
Yes
No
Did you
eat/drink more
when your
body
temperature
changed?
Yes
No
Did you eat/drink
more or less during
your depression?
Yes
No
Did you
become obese
from
eating/drinking
more?
Yes
No
Did you
become obese
from
eating/drinking
more?
Yes
No
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Warren Burggren, Ph.D., Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Vish Prasad, Ph.D., Vice President for Research and Economic Development
Michael Monticino, Ph.D., Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Gloria C. Cox, Ph.D., Dean, Honors College
Art Goven, Ph.D., Chair, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and
Sciences