With the latest economic downturn- the exponential growth of depression and anxiety, as well as the intensity, duration, and frequency of worry are leading to serious impairment of our normal physical and psychological functioning. Anxiety is often, despite not always, accompanied by mild (dysthymia) to moderate depression with number of physical symptoms including headache, muscle tension, elevated blood pressure, gastrointestinal problems, fatigue, mood shifts, insomnia, and irritability. It is believed to affect about an estimated 19 million adult Americans (15% of the U.S. adults), and is converting in more common than any other mental health disorder. (Source, MedicineNet and Wiki)
Many conditions (symptoms, syndromes and diseases) are direct result and consequence of the brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) imbalance. Inadequate or imbalanced neurotransmitter levels can result in distorted signals between the brain cells, known as "neurons." Latest research has shown that lowered levels of the brain hormone- serotonin and increased levels of the adrenal hormone- cortisol could be responsible for anxiety and depression, obesity, metabolic syndrome, chronic insomnia, addiction to food and other addictions, obsessive compulsive disorders, etc. (Source, Wiki and NH-WC Beyond Holistic)
Multiple literature data proved the probability that neurotransmitters' imbalance can trigger chronic muscle/ joint pain, obsessive/ compulsive behaviors, attention deficit disorder (ADD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), migraines, hypertension, fibromyalgia and many others. A new study published in the American Journal of Public Health (June 9, 2010) and performed at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) showed conclusive data that depression could play a role in abdominal obesity- one of the major metabolic syndrome markers. The researchers compared data from the coronary artery risk development in young adults study (CARDIA)- a 20-year mega-longitudinal study of more than 5,115 men and women aged between 18-30.
The main task of this study was to prove the “cause-effect” connection and to testify whether body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference measurements are associated with significantly elevated levels of depression and anxiety and vice versa. Their findings were that over a period of 15 years, all subjects put on some pounds, but the group selected as “depressed” individuals gained even faster.
The study strongly confirmed that depression may trigger abdominal obesity, but did not find any confirmation data on the question if overweight people are more depressed than their lean counterparts. "Those who started out reporting high levels of depression gained weight at a faster rate than others in the study, but starting out overweight did not lead to changes in depression" claimed UAB Assistant Professor of Sociology, Belinda Needham, Ph.D. The author stated that since cortisol, is already known as the hormone of stress, depression and abdominal obesity, its elevated levels might explain why depressed people tend to gain more belly fat than the rest of the group.
Finally, the author concluded, "Our study is important because if you are interested in controlling obesity, and ultimately eliminating the risk of obesity-related diseases, then it makes sense to treat people’s depression. It's another reason to take depression seriously and not to think about it just in terms of mental health, but to also think about the physical consequences of mental health problems." (Source, UAB)
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