Diets & Depression

Being on a diet is so common that we take it as a simple choice to lose weight. Occasionally it is, but in fact it usually involves much more. If we scratch the surface, we find out that for those who have been on and off many diets throughout their life, the decision to try to lose weight again is usually part of a much larger life transition and improvement agenda.

"I am going through menopause and don't want to go into the next part of my life as a heavy person."

"I want to start having fun in life."

"I'm going through a divorce."

"I have lost someone dear to me and it's time to take care of myself."

These are all common reasons people give for wanting to lose weight. If we take a second to think about these statements, dieting obviously involves much more than simply a desire to slim down.

What Dieters Have In Common
Last year we did an internet survey of 7500 people who were seeking diet information. We asked them about the stress in their life and how they felt about their life. The survey results, along with what I've seen in my work with thousands of dieters, has convinced me that there is definitely a strong relationship between being overweight and depression and that going on a diet for roughly two thirds of the serious dieters is part of their attempt to do something positive about their life, and their depression.

Sixty-nine percent of the dieters we surveyed said they were not having enough day-to-day fun in their lives and an equal number felt they were not taking care of their own interests. And roughly the same percent said they were rarely free from doubts and fears. This is quite an astounding set of facts. It shows quite clearly that dieters are seeking more in their life than to just lose a few pounds. They are on a mission to make some changes in their life so they can make themselves feel better. About two thirds of the dieters we surveyed also said they felt stuck in their life, that they weren't satisfied with their friends and that they didn't like the way they spent their leisure time. Dieting for these people is part of doing something about their life.

Around fifty percent of the dieting population we surveyed thought they were going through a major life transition and did not think that their future looked bright. One of the keys to being happy is to be able to look forward to a good future. When the future looks dark or gloomy or uncertain, a depressed feeling always comes into play and colors everything, including a downgrading of one's accomplishment or past joys. In fact when you look at these survey results, it's easy to conclude that there is some degree of depression at work and that dieting is tied to an effort to relieve that depression.

This impression was clearly strengthened when we asked another question of our survey population. We asked them when they most frequently broke their diet and turned to food for relief of stress. Two thirds said it was when they were most critical of themselves and one half said it is when they were depressed. As a psychiatrist, when a patient tells me they are too critical of themselves, I instinctively understand that I am talking to someone who is depressed. I know very well from my own work with patients who are overweight that people have learned how to silence the internal critic temporarily with food, so overeating becomes the medication of choice.

What I Mean By "Depression"
The word depression has come to mean so many things lately that I want to clarify what I mean by it before I go any further. The kind of depression I'm talking about here is not the clinical depression called major depressive disorder that has been diagnosed in up to 10% of the adult population. Instead I'm talking about the depressed moods that come and go, take their toll, but do not incapacitate the person. The depressed mood is tied to a perception that one's life is not going as well as hoped for or as expected. This has been called a sub-clinical depression and at any one point in time we believe that about a third of the adult population is in this state of mind.

The Vicious Cycle
In doctors' offices it is estimated that 70% of all outpatients have some degree of sub-clinical depression. In Britain, because of this high percentage, they have asked their doctors to stop giving antidepressant medication to this large group of people who are distressed, but not clinically depressed.

Although antidepressants are frequently prescribed for sub-clinical depression in this country, it is probably not the best choice for people who are overweight or sensitive to weight gain. Many of the most popular antidepressants cause significant weight gain in one out of every four patients. The average weight gain is 7 per cent of their body weight, and for some it is up to 20% of their body weight. There are an estimated 28 million people in this country taking antidepressant medication so undoubtedly for some the cause of being overweight is a combination of two factors, the depression and the medication for the depression.

And of course there is a self-perpetuating cycle at work. If you are depressed and then eat to comfort yourself and gain weight, that weight makes you more unhappy, so of course you have to eat more to comfort yourself.

This cycle goes on and on until one day you wake up and say no more and decide you are going to do something about the cycle. You either decide to see a therapist, or ask your doctor for an antidepressant, or go on a diet, or start rearranging your life to get unstuck, or you start doing all of the above.

That's exactly why I said at the beginning of this article that dieting is part of some larger agenda in the lives of most dieters. On the surface a diet's purpose is to help you lose a few pounds, but it's probably also an attempt to break the cycle of sub-clinical depression, and to regain the momentum in your life, and with that, to recapture your own self-esteem.

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32 Comments In the order they were posted.

Carol said...

How true for me.I am on a huge search for the meaning of my life now that the kids are grown,here I am,What next.I am 50 pounds overweight.All I want to do is enjoy as much food as I can.I feel I have no control.I am tired working very hard looking for the answers to get off this dangerous amount of weight that is causing health issues for me now.Glad I found this site.At least it is making ne think.

fluffy said...

I can totally relate to what Carol has said. I am at the same stage in my life and all I want to do is stuff myself with food.

anonymous said...

i have been given endless prescriptions for anti-depressants and appetite suppressants none of wich seem to help lift me from my dependance on compulsive over-eating,the depression feels real but is alleviated at times of ability to control eating and to exercise anti-depressants seem to numb my brain can see issues relating to me in this programme and hope to work through and can see its the only way for me to move forward to address my weight and eating issues not joining and failing at another diet club

patti said...

I have been gradually gaining weight for years. Now I must make a conscious effort to get it off. The pain is no longer worth the gain. I have high blood pressure now so its important to try and get happy and thin. Life has less stress now I think I can do it. This site has been so helpful.

AManda said...

I take anti depressants for ADD this is the first year and I have gained almost 60lbs in 1 yr.

Carol K. said...

I have struggled with at least low-grade depression since childhood. Perhaps the circumstances that evolved in my life, after my mother took her life when I was 19 months old, have had something to do with the depressive state, but I had 4 older siblings who didn't seem to struggle with depression and only one of them struggled with addictive behavior as well. . . .so why me? I began to chunk out in grade school and it's been a lifelong Anti-depressant meds don't help the weight problem and usually don't help the head much either for very long. I never understood when others lost weight and bragged on how good they felt because I still struggled with the cravings and some level of depression. The drug Meridia helped me lose the last time I was successful and it helped me crave exercise. I have always hated exercising. When I had to stop the Meridia, the craving for exercising left and the weight quickly came back on. My weight is a life emergency. At 5'2", 219, my top weight, I felt like I was dying and I think I was committing slow suicide. . . . .I'm looking for hope that I can stop the emotional dependency I have on binge eating, mostly of the foods that aren't health giving.

Carolyn Fasel said...

Thank you Carol K. Much of my story is like yours, probably depressed in childhood as well as now. I was the only chunky one of 7 siblings. I have slimmed down to a healthy weight 4 times--it may last up to 4 years, and then down I go and up my weight goes. For my sons' sake, I want to be healthy. I care for sick dying old folks, and I wouldn't want to put them through what many people do in caring for their parents. When I was in high school the family doctor put me on amphetemines. It worked for weight loss and lifted my mood so I felt great for the first time in my life. The downside however, was addiction, and it was a horrible experience getting off of them.

May Bowens said...

I to have a weight problem,and also very depress because of it, I do not want to exercise, all I want to do is sleep my life away, and eat my life away, I work part time. But when i'm finished I want to eat and sleep, I need help real bad.

keri  said...

I have lost 3 stone in the last few years partly as a result of feeling down about my life.But has it helped? NO.yes I feel better about how I look but the problems are still there and I actually feel worse about life now.I still binge eat big time and I feel at the bottom of the pit emotionally.HOW can I break this circle?

Barb C said...

Hi.... I am 48 years old and have been overweight most of my life. When I was 18 I lost all my excess weight. That stayed off maybe a year. Now I weigh 355 lbs at 5 ft. 71/2 inches. No matter what I try the weight just keeps on finding me. I am just realizing that I am an emotional eater, after reading all these articals. I do not work and have 2 children I am a single mom and at this time I have no income coming in. My children were taken from me for 3 weeks and it feels like I have been eating ever since they left. I am a member of TOPS and lose alittle weight but gradually find it again. I could really use the help to take and keep it off.

Michelle  said...

Depression is a painful journey but being overeating is a stalemate for a couple of reasons. When you overeat for comfort and end up fat - you can't help but feeling depressed. Also, the foods that make people fat are mind-altering in the most negative way possible. Lastly, when you reach for food for comfort instead of learning how to take charge of your life you never learn the necessary skills to make your life what you want and overcome your circumstances. Eating just eats your time up - it never moves you toward a better life. And you can have a better life. Our program teaches people how to stop filling themselves up with food and start getting fulfilled with life.

Alice said...

"...to regain the momentum in your life..." that's all I want... the days where I have tonnes of appointments and things to do, I have a wonderful day eating wise, even if it's stressful, I'm busy and I feel good about having a purpose. I think the key for me is to keep busy and work on my 'momentum'. I'm a list writer, and I have noticed that the days I have nothing on, with no lists, have ended in bad days for me. This course/newsletters/blog has just been epiphany after epiphany for me :

Rose said...

Seems like we may all be older women? Perhaps it's the way society treats older people. We are not respected, we are devalued and downgraded, as though we have nothing to offer...feelings of worthlessness set in, feeling sorry for self...no meaning to life.....sleeping and eating, and working if lucky enough to have work...try chipglobal.com to alter lifestyle for good. I am using the recipe book it's good. If I eat the CHIP way, I'll get healthy, lose weignt, and people are reversing heart disease and medications.....I am using the recipe book. Nice food and healthy. I feel like I am doing something good for myself. It is a spiritual problem also. Reach out to God, read HIs word. It'll give life meaning and get understanding of what's happening in this world. It's a huge disaster waiting to happen. Matt 24, Revelation, etc Rose

michelle said...

i'm a 22 yr old mum of 2. i myself have struggled throughout my lifeso far with my weight. in my school years i was bullied for my weight at my heaviest i was size 18, this just made it worse i'd go home and comfort eat. i then lost most my weight through diet's and exercise. i have not long given birth to my 2nd daughter, but i still have this emotional crutch with my food, this has also been linked to bulemia. i want to end this cycle now well i'm still young, and so my girl's don't see.

Lee Wood said...

I agree with May Bowens, all I want to do is sleep and eat. I work part time and have plenty I could do at home but just do not have the energy or stamina to do it!! I am on Prozac and have tried to ween myself off at various times but all I do is cry over every little thing when I do not have it. I try to exercise but I am just too exhausted to keep it up. My Dr. just seems to poo poo me and doesn't look into it any further. I'm beyond caring about whether I look great or not. I just want to feel better. I desparately need some help as my weight has now reached 300lbs and I am 5' 7" tall. I am also diabetic but I am able to keep my sugar in control.

marcia said...

I have clinical depression, diagnoised 13 years ago. I am on 2 different antidepressants, and have slowly gained 50 lbs. I have high blood pressure, high cholosterol, and both knee replacements. I am 64 years and live with husban that has diabeties and heart disease. He is non compliant with all the things that he should be doing for maintaing his health. I am a RN, with a backgroud in cardiology, and know the long term effects of diabetes, and heart disease. It hurts me to see how he doesn't care about his health, and I feel sabbagtoged when he has a generous supply of all the wrong food in the house. I feel hepless and hopeless. Our marriage has already suffered conquences from his health issues. I am a binge eater, but was slim and trim, and envolved with many sport activities all of my younger years. I never thought I would become obese, and wish to loose my 50 lbs for good

fiona said...

my children are finished college and getting on with their lives. i am 49 and divorced and live 5 hours from my kids. i long for time past. Now I don'y know who I am or what I am good at and kinda feel lost, lonely, left behind. Oh and I am 100 pounds overweight. Any advice or friends that relate to my story?

BARB said...

I am married with three children - a college student, high school, and elementary. Our lives are full and fun, but at times very overwhelming. I have 40 lbs to lose and for me I am very active! I work out 4 to 6 days a week at the YMCA, plus walk our dog 20-40 min. a day. What is frustrating for me is that I can do all the right things and only lose a few lbs, compaired to when I was in my 20's I would do this and lose my weight within a month. When I work hard and eat right and nothing happens, I sabbatoge myself and bing eat on fatty salty foods, which stops my process. So I can work hard for 4-6 weeks and only loose 5lbs and inches and feel like a failure - so then I think why bother - I can't do it anyway. Help - Any words of advise?

Dana said...

First of all I have never left a message on a web board before! The comments I have read astonish me because I believe that I fall into the same catagory as many of the posters. I am 45 and my children are all in their 20's. I was about forty pounds overweight for the past 10 or so years. While being a mom all the focus is on the kids and I put myself on the back burner. Then all of a sudden they are gone and I am - well that's just it - who or what am I. I have no activities or interests of my own. I think that I have been eating to try to fill a void. Yet that very same action creates less real action in my life. I want to take it all back and have a life and that is exactly what I choose to do. Best of luck to all of you in your journey!

Lauren said...

I am so glad there's a place to seek comfort....I get depressed when I am overweight mainly because I don't think I'm loveable if there's any extra fat on me. I am obsessed with perfection. My own mother even commented on my extra weight. I used to be a model in my 30's so I've always been expected to stay thin I'm 52 now and harder to stay slim Since I'm not at a perfect weight 15-20 lbs over right now I get depressed and then start eating more to compensate for the awful feelings I have toward myself. It's a vicious cycle. I'll have to get the book!

cassy said...

I suffer from depression and post traumatic stress disorder. I went up from about 130 to 235 lbs. I couldnt hold a job had low self esteem and ended up wearing knee braces. I've dropped some weight but would like to drop more.

laurie said...

To Lee Woods and Barb - you are not alone. I have battled my weight and depression problems for over 15 years. The pills help with anxiety, but my weight keeps going up no matter what I do. It is so discouraging to eat properly and exercise, but not lose any weight. I have gone on diets and exercise programs for months, only to lose 5 pounds or less. After a while, I say "what's the use" and fall right back into my old routine. I am now heavier than I ever been in my life. I don't even recognize myself in the mirror or in pictures. I trying to get the courage to try something new.

Bettebet said...

Hi Instead of prescriptions for antidepressants, I think there should be prescriptions or incentives to join the gym, or exercise class or for massages. These physical actions are things the human body needs. B

Bettebet said...

Alice The momentum thing is key. I try to keep moving but am wary of being obsessed into "busyness". Being involved and present help me to lose the food and pounds. I live and work alone. I need to change the work thing ASAP. B

Bettebet said...

I also think that Weight Watchers is finally understanding the OA model and applying some of that knowledge. Now to get an on-going weekly program started at my gym or Y. Any ideas are welcome B

Barb V said...

Was slim when young, put on weight after college, now 35 pounds overweight. I'm active but at 52, it's getting worse. Depressed for years, with ptsd, on meds, but the big problem is that all I can think about is food, unless I am very busy doing things I want to be doing. I feel ashamed that I am out of control with eating, but I have done it all my adult life. When I was younger, I could exercise most of it off and still eat like a lumberjack, but now...I just can't keep up the pace. I am tired and really scared that this is it...getting heavier and heavier, then a stroke or heart attack, miserable death. Dang, I can do better than this, can't I?

Claire said...

Barb V... I'm 52, and 50lbs overweight. I'm an emotional overeater. i been that way for over 20 years. I kept the weight off by taking diet pills. Now it doesn't work anymore. Now i know, i never gotten over my bad childhood experience. Now i have to face myself. who am i? What is it that God want me to do, that's hidden behind this overeating issue, i have. Overeating take me into a whole new state of mind. When i binge eat i don't care about anything until it's over. I don't like myself very much. Help!

janet said...

I am 52 divorced for 15 years now, lonesome. My kids are both now college age, and I am 100 pounds overweight It is time to start my life again. I have been hiding behind this fat for too long and I wonder what the "pay-off" could be...fear or rejection I can now blame that on being fat I always sabotage my best efforts, always have the best intentions, and fail over and over. The depression/eating/depresison cycle just continues. My life did not turn out at all the way I expected it. I have no life at all. All I do is go to work,come home, eat, sleep and start all over again. I hate being uncomfortable or hungry..it is so hard to make even the simplest lifestyle change. I used to be very thin and turn heads...seemed like 100 years ago.

Tmarie said...

OH Dear I too am eating to fill so many voids in my life! I have all the childhood things, loss of my father, abuse, etc...and now here I am dealing with figuring out who I am...I have been "empty nesting" for 4 years now I have spent them eating and trying so hard not to deal with the fact that my son is so far away...I HATE food so much and can't seem to let it go! I wish everyone here the best of luck in y our journey....God Bless!

Aviva said...

I am in my mid fifties and was skinny during my youth and early adult years until a auto accident left me injured, unable to exercise cold for 3 years. I slowly began to gain weight and struggle with low thyroid and other health matters like insomnia. I was also diagnosed with subclinical depression a few years ago and now am off the medication. I am slowly losing weight but am astonished by the number of women around my age and with similar health problems. This is not from normal aging - look at the last two generations and see what is going on with our food. Some of it is the additives like coloring, preservatives, and chemicals to improve the texture. Also the portions have increased and we have a huge availability of food, much of it that our bodies cannot handle. However, I also believe that emotionally we are all living with more stress fear in our lives - just look at the world around us. I'm glad this program is helping many of you others and I may join, too, after I see a new endocrinologist who isn't afraid to prescribe outside the drug company's money zone. Those that are interested should check the Internet and read up on the Synthroid conspiracy and how hard it is to get your doctor to give your the right type of compound. I think this is because our health care system is broken and doctors don't have time to read up on everything so they fall back on getting their information from drug companies and the ads they run in the Journal of American Medicine and other similar publications. So I hope that those of you who are overweight will also work on looking into those matters because some of the problems are emotional and some are not. We feel overwhelmed, and weak, and much of it also has to do with what we are brainwashed into thinking by the established professionals. While I do believe they mean well, many do not have all the answers and if something inside you suspects that you are not getting the help you need then go find it! I am traveling 250 miles for treatment, and thankful that it is available at all.

Eleanor said...

Hi everyone. I felt moved to write a post. I'm 31, stressed with kids, husband, and study, 5'8 and currently 195 pounds ranging up and down between 139-231 in the last decade As I was reading this I felt like I wanted to eat and i thought why? I'm full, I've already been binging I wanted someone to tell me everything would be okay, I would be alright, not to worry, I'd be taken care of, reassurance, I want it, who can give it to me? God can and I can. I still want to eat, but after telling myself I love me and will look after me, even though there are no guarantees in life, I want to unhealthily eat A LOT LESS. Send your prayers and strength my way, I send you mine. As women, we need to start giving ourselves what we need, it's what we've been trying to give to others while "starving" for it ourselves and poisoning our bodies with excess calories and saturated fats while we wait for someone else to take care of us. We need to start taking care of ourselves. Noone else is there 24/7 to give us what we need. We need to learn to love ourselves. Easier said than done, but I'm getting there finally, thankfully. Thanks for your comments. None of us are really alone. xxx

musicistherapy said...

I am 49. I lost my mum and gran in April 2008. I am on two mood stabilisers and two antidepressants I was retired from my job in a psychiatric unit as I became ill myself. I think I have lost my sense of purpose. I teach piano which is great but I feel very lethargic a lot of the time. I am 70 pouns overweight. Some of it may ber down to meds but I do have an overall feeling of a rather downhill future-my husband has made it clear he misses the old me. I have a nine year old daughter who I feel I am letting down. I know I eat to escape feeling, but it doesn't help. It's become an engrained habit. How do I get out?? Thanks for all your comments by the way-all of them are helpful.