A recent study funded by the cancer research in the United Kingdom linking weight loss to a higher rate of depression, suggesting that losing weight does not necessarily guarantee satisfaction or pleasure. The researchers at University College of London based their findings on data collected from over 2,000 individuals who were clinically classified as obese. They wanted to establish if there were any positive benefits that mental health gained from weight loss as the patient's physical health did. The data did not include participants who were previously diagnosed with depression or other mental illness.
Data showed that, unsurprisingly, the participants manifested countless physical health advantages including decreased risk of diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Furthermore, participant who lost an additional amount of weight within the following four-year period were also observed to have a significant drop in their blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which further reduced their risk for heart disease. During the course of the study, researchers noted that almost 52% of participants who initially lost the weight were also reporting more frequent episodes of depression than they did prior to the weight loss. However, those who lost an additional 5% of their weight did not show the same tendency towards depression.
Lead author, Sarah Jackson, stressed that they are, in no way, discouraging weight loss. They merely wanted to study the correlation between losing weight and increased incidents of depression that have been reported with it, seeming to suggest that losing weight does not ensure the improvement of all aspects of a person's life. Many weight loss products and programs are advocating ideas that shedding excess pounds is als that person's direct path to happiness, and this research study proved otherwise.
The researchers acknowledged that the depression could be linked to the stressful impacts of dieting since it entails the deprivation of food, which, according to studies, takes a mental toll on the patient. The inability to derive pleasure from eating what you want, when you want it can significantly lower levels of happiness and satisfaction.