10:04 PM
Wednesday 07 June 2023
I wrote – Nada Najid:
Obesity not only affects the body organically, but also harms mental health, as some sufferers suffer from several psychological disorders.
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In the following lines, The Consulto reviews the impact of obesity on psychological and mental health, according to the National Council on Aging (NCOA).
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The effect of obesity on psychological and mental health
In some studies, researchers have found that obese adults are more than 55 percent more likely to develop depression than people of a healthy weight.
The obese patient is in a vicious circle when depressed, because his desire to eat foods rich in simple carbohydrates increases due to low levels of the hormone serotonin with mood swings.
Research has revealed a relationship between being overweight and an increased risk of depression, chronic stress, bipolar disorder, panic, agoraphobia, and sleep disorders.
Also read: How do chronic diseases affect mental health?
Why does obesity affect psychological and mental health?
The cause of the psychological disorders associated with obesity is due to the following factors:
1- Quality of life
Obese people usually face great difficulty in carrying out their lives normally, because of their excessive size that makes them unable to perform routine activities, even simple ones, especially if they have chronic diseases.
2- The view of others
Most people view obese patients as lazy people, who cannot perform the tasks assigned to them with the required efficiency, and this explains why they accept rejection when applying for many jobs.
3- Social stigma
Obese patients tend to be isolated, and the reason is due to the social stigma that haunts them wherever they go, in addition to the bullying they are exposed to by some people, because of the shape of their bodies.
4- Infections
Some research has shown that the high percentage of body fat in obese patients leads to increased levels of inflammation, which weakens the immune system and increases the risk of depression.
It may interest you: A doctor warns of obesity: its complications are dangerous
2023-06-07 19:09:02
#effect #obesity #mental #health
