Depression associated with overeating

Depression is most likely due to a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. Brain-imaging technologies, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), have shown that the parts of the brain involved in mood, thinking, sleep, appetite, and behavior of people who have depression function differently than those of people without it.

Depression is one of the strong emotions associated with overeating. In a depressed mood, most will feel hopeless, tired, and uninterested in activities they used to love. Attempting to cheer themselves up, these people will often turn to food to deal with these feelings. Unfortunately, that overeating causes the pounds to pack on. This weight gain can deepen the depression even further.

A 2012 study has shown why both stress and eating poorly are linked to an increased risk for anxiety and depression. The effects of a high-fat diet overlap with the effects of chronic stress that are known to play a hand in causing depression (Neuropharmacology. 2012 Jan;62(1):35-41).

Many people overeat out of boredom. With nothing else to do, they rummage through the cupboards to fill the time. Often they sit in front of the TV or computer mindlessly munching on snacks without ever being hungry.

Instead of determining why they are bored, or finding something constructive to fill that boredom, these overeaters stuff the time, and their stomachs, with unnecessary fattening foods.
Depression associated with overeating