7 Statistics on Childhood Obesity: How this links to Adult Depression - Rachel Devine

Obesity afflicts over 40% of the adult population in the United States and is associated with significant health risks like diabetes, heart disease and cancer. But obesity also takes a heavy toll on mental health. Research shows being overweight can lead to depression and unhappiness, which in turn can trigger more overeating, fueling a vicious cycle. This vicious cycle is hard to turn off. Most people just want to be happy in life. Let’s explore this cycle and see how one can overcome this dilemma and be happy.

Studies on Obesity

Studies have found obese individuals are more likely to suffer from poor self-esteem, social isolation, and symptoms of depression, compared to the general population. An analysis in Obesity Reviews found that depression was 55% more likely in obese versus normal weight adults. There are several reasons obesity predisposes people to depression.

Excess weight often leads to negative body image, shame and self-criticism. Overweight people may experience social stigma, bullying or discrimination which undermine self-worth. Carrying excess weight can cause physical limitations and joint pain that reduce quality of life. Inflammation triggered by obesity may also contribute to chemical changes in the brain that disrupt mood.

Obesity and Depression

Depression resulting from obesity in turn promotes more overeating and weight gain. Depressed people often use food to self-medicate and boost serotonin levels temporarily. Comfort foods high in fat and sugar provide short-term mood relief. Binge eating provides distraction from negative emotions. Depression can also sap motivation needed to maintain healthy diet and exercise habits. This is one of the reasons newly depressed individuals often experience rapid weight gain. Depression medication can also cause weight gain. Reducing sugar and carbohydrates are key to losing weight. Reducing them in your diet can help not only help weight loss, but also lessen inflammation in the body, which causes a slew of health issues, including joint pain.

A case study described in Eating Behaviors examined Emma, a 28-year-old obese woman with major depression and binge eating disorder. Emma traced her weight gain to gaining over 100 pounds during a period of depression after a breakup in college. She continued bingeing to find relief from intense self-loathing about her size. This exemplifies how obesity sparked depression, and depression-fueled overeating caused further obesity. It becomes a vicious cycle.

Fortunately, counseling, or a life coach, and lifestyle changes can help restore mental health and reverse this vicious cycle. Getting regular exercise, adopting a balanced diet, pursuing interests, and developing a social support system are all protective against both obesity and depression. With proper treatment, patients like Emma can achieve lasting weight loss along with reducing depression.

Obesity and depression fuel each other through a complex bidirectional relationship. Obesity predisposes people to developing unhappiness and clinical mood disorders. Meanwhile, resulting depression and poor self-image often trigger compensatory overeating, which worsens obesity. Recognizing this link is key to designing more effective weight loss and mental health treatment plans.

Healthy Eating Plan

A healthy eating plan is so important. Fresh fruit and vegetables might sound boring, but if you choose the ones you really like you can create delicious dishes. For instance, I love spinach, so I saute spinach and garlic with olive oil. Then I add some grilled chicken and I have a healthy dish. I also make a healthy turkey based chili. For dessert, I love a blueberry keto cobbler or some dark chocolate, without sugar in it. Cutting down drastically on carbohydrates and sugar has given me more energy and helped me feel better overall and I am totally pain free.

Here are some fascinating key statistics on childhood obesity rates in the United States:

• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the obesity rate for children aged 2-19 years in the U.S. is 18.5% as of 2018. This translates to around 14.4 million obese children.

• Breaking it down by age, around 13.4% of 2-5 year olds, 20.3% of 6-11 year olds, and 21.2% of 12-19 year olds were obese in 2018 based on CDC data.

• Obesity rates in children are on the rise. In the 1970s, only about 5% of U.S. children aged 2-19 were obese. Rates have nearly quadrupled since then.

• Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey show that severe obesity among youth has also risen significantly from 3.8% in 1988-1994 to 6.1% in 2015-2016.

• Obesity disproportionately affects some racial/ethnic groups. In 2018, around 11% of Asian American youth were obese, compared to 14% of white, 25% of Latino, and 22% of black youth.

• A study in Pediatrics found that children who were overweight or obese between ages 3–5 had 4 times higher odds of being obese at age 12 compared to normal weight children. So childhood obesity often persists into adolescence and adulthood.

• Estimates suggest annual healthcare costs associated with childhood obesity are around $14 billion in the U.S. Obese youth are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes from an early age.

In summary, childhood and adolescent obesity is a major public health crisis in America that appears to be worsening over time. Obviously, childhood obesity morphs into adult obesity. So, it makes sense to start a child’s life off with good eating habits. Addressing this epidemic is crucial for improving long-term health outcomes for the future.

Rachel Devine is the author of, The Third Road & Lessons from the Needle in a Haystack.

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