Is there an association between underweight and depression?

How does our weight affect our state of mind??
There has long been a suspicion that there is an association between depression and underweight. Researchers now found that there is indeed a significant link between low weight and the onset of depression. Too thin men and women are more likely to have negative depressive thoughts.

The researchers from the Seoul National University of Medicine found in their recent study that low weight seems to be associated with depression. The scientists published the results of their study in the medical journal "British Journal of Psychiatry".

Depression is a heavy burden for sufferers. Physicians have now found in a study that there is a link between depression and too low body weight. (Image: Africa Studio / fotolia.com)

Men and women are more likely to suffer from depression when underweight
If men and women are underweight, this is increasingly associated with depression, according to knowledge workers. This observed effect differs from depression in overweight people, which usually affect only women, explain the authors. However, the experts at Seoul National University of Medicine were unable to pinpoint whether depression led to underweight or underweight to depression.

Physicians analyze data from 183 studies
For their study, researchers from Seoul analyzed data from 183 separate studies. They looked for the relationship between overweight and underweight with depression. The researchers also found that gender makes a significant difference when it comes to how people who are overweight feel.

Women are more likely to suffer from depression due to obesity
The present beauty ideal in this day and age is a slim body. Women are influenced by such beauty ideals more than men, say the authors. This leads to an increased mental stress for overweight women, which in turn can cause depression. The study also found that overweight men have a significantly reduced risk of depression. Men just seem to be better at dealing with overweight, compared to affected women, the researchers explain. In the case of women, however, both underweight and obesity lead to an increased risk of depression, the researchers added.

Result of the study is especially important for people with eating disorders
The current study confirms that optimal nutrition is essential for physical and mental health. Underweight and obesity are therefore related to depression. This finding is especially important for people with eating disorders, explain the researchers. Because these would often assume that a loss of weight leads to an improvement in their happiness and their satisfaction.

Malnutrition has an adverse effect on the mood of those affected
The results of the current study show that weight reduction does not automatically improve happiness and satisfaction, but can also do the opposite. Malnutrition has a detrimental effect on the mood of those affected, emphasize the researchers. Maintaining a healthy weight is very important for good mental health, according to scientists from Seoul National University of Medicine. (As)