Depression could lead to obesity in women, a latest study by Tulane University states.
Researchers analysed data from 743 women at Greater New Orleans in 2006 fall. The women were part of a project called ACTION, a wellness program designed to improve eating habits and physical activity among the school staff.
The participants were asked about their daily physical activity and diet. The researchers then calculated the body mass index of the participating women. The results showed that women who showed depression symptoms were involved in emotional eating and had higher BMis than others.
The researchers also stated that feeling depressed can lead to low confidence in participants' ability to exercise.
"This study adds to growing evidence of the link between depressive symptoms and weight in women," Carolyn Johnson, director of the Tulane Prevention Research Center and an author of the study said, according to Medical Xpress.
Because of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, women in the study had more depressive symptoms compared to those in other national studies, according to researchers.
"Given the high rates of both depression and obesity in women, there is an urgent need for new strategies to address these co-occuring health issues," lead researcher Gretchen Clum, associate professor of global community health and behavioral sciences, said in a news release.
People tend to be more depressed during the holiday season. Some researchers state that it is better to engage yourself in some kind of activities. Further, they also should not think about perfection. "Holiday TV specials are filled with happy endings. But in real life, people don't usually resolve problems within an hour or two. Something always comes up. You may get stuck late at the office and miss your daughter's school play, your sister may dredge up an old argument, you may forget to put nuts in the cake, and your mother may criticize how you and your partner are raising the kids - all in the same day. Expect and accept imperfections," E Christine Moll, chair and professor of counseling and human services at Canisius College wrote in a news release.
The findings are published in the 'Journal of Behavioral Medicine.'
