 It used to be a common belief that overweight and obese people
were all either compulsive eaters or anxious, depressed, under
stress or trying to compensate for deficiencies in their lives
like low self-esteem.
But, as obesity reaches epidemic levels in the U.S. and other
affluent societies, experts are dismissing the idea that weight
gain is due purely to personal emotional problems. It's true
that many obese people are depressed but they may be trapped in
a vicious cycle whereby they eat a poor diet and fail to get
regular exercise in the first place, making them overweight
which, in turn, makes them even more depressed.
The American Psychiatric Association has never regarded
overeating or excess weight as a psychiatric disorder and
most obese people do not qualify for a negative psychiatric
diagnosis. However, while previous research presented
conflicting results as to the link between obesity and mental
illness, including depression, a new study suggests that
there is an association.
"The study of more than 9,000 adults found that mood and
anxiety disorders including depression were about 25 percent
more common in the obese people studied than in the non-obese,"
according to an article in the July 2006 issue of Archives of
General Psychiatry (1).
Many cases of excess weight gain and obesity have a reversible
physical disorder called Insulin Resistance as an underlying
cause. High levels of glucose and insulin in the blood stream
are classic symptoms of Insulin Resistance, which lowers the
number of insulin receptor sites on the cell walls and prevents
the efficient conversion of glucose into energy.
Unable to enter the cell wall, glucose is carried in the blood
stream to the liver from where it is redistributed as fat
throughout the body. If left unchecked, excess glucose and
insulin in the body may lead to weight gain and obesity.
Insulin Resistance can result in the onset of a number of
potentially dangerous disorders. Depressed people who seek
comfort in carbohydrate-rich food may be especially vulnerable
to developing the cluster of cardiovascular risk factors called
Metabolic Syndrome (Syndrome X), especially when their extra
weight is concentrated around the waist. In men, this means a
40-inch waist or larger and in women it is 35 inches or larger.
Excess weight and obesity may also lead to the onset of the
hormonal imbalance known as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS),
a leading cause of female infertility, as well as skin
conditions, excess body and facial hair and male pattern
baldness in women.
Additionally, Insulin Resistance can also be a root cause of
reversible Pre-Diabetes which, if neglected, may lead to Type 2
Diabetes. Managing this latter irreversible condition can
require daily insulin injections for the rest of one's life; it
also significantly increases the risk for blindness, amputation
and kidney disease.
All Insulin Resistance-related disorders increase the chance of
a heart attack or stroke.
 Lethargy is often a key component of depression, which results
in victims losing out on both the psychological and
physiological benefits of regular exercise. If people feel
rejected, unattractive or suffer social discrimination, the
emotional strain may cause further weight gain. The problem can
become even worse if they fail to lose weight and are then
blamed by other people (or blame themselves) for lack of
self-control.
One of the mechanisms by which depression is linked to obesity
is a low serotonin level amongst depressed individuals.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that influences our feelings of
well being, calmness and a sense of euphoria; a lack of
serotonin causes depressed feelings. Because carbohydrates cause
an increase in serotonin levels, it is often difficult for
someone who is depressed to avoid eating too many carbohydrates
- and the reason why they may crave them.
There is no single product that reverses weight gain and
obesity, which clearly need to be controlled and reduced in the
case of many people suffering from depression as well as
attendant disorders like Metabolic Syndrome, PCOS and
Pre-Diabetes.
What is required is a complete system, including nutraceuticals
(vitamins, herbs and minerals that are disease-specific), a
realistic exercise program, nutritional guidance and a support
network that will help you change unhealthy lifestyle choices.
Click here to learn about the new breakthrough called the Insulite System for Excess Weight and Obesity, which is scientifically-designed to restore the balance of circulating blood sugar and insulin levels – key factors in stabilizing and then reducing weight gain caused by depression and other mental disorders. Weight loss often provides a great psychological boost and helps create a sense of well being.
One of the system's formulations, called Meta-Omega X, features
omega-3 fatty acids that, research shows, can have a positive
effect on mood.
You may be interested in some Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs) about the Insulite System for
Excess Weight and Obesity.
(1) Association Between Obesity and Psychiatric Disorders in the US Adult Population
- Gregory E. Simon; Michael Von Korff; Kathleen Saunders; Diana L. Miglioretti; Paul K. Crane; Gerald van Belle; Ronald C. Kessler, Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2006;63:824-830.
Click here
to read about
What
Causes Insulin Resistance
|
