Depression, weight gain, and helpful treatment go hand in hand. Because one of the symptoms of depression is changes in appetite, weight gain can happen.

However, with depression, it can be the case of the chicken or egg.  Meaning, we want to look at what came first.  Did the weight gain contribute to depression or did the depression cause weight gain?  If the weight gain is what caused someone to feel depressed, then the treatment would be to find healthy ways to lose the weight if indicated.  However, if the weight gain is as a result of a depressive episode, we are going to want to treat the depression itself. We won’t want to focus solely on the weight gain.

Symptoms of Depression Leading to Weight Gain

Unfortunately, depression makes it hard to lose weight for a variety of reasons.  One major symptom of depression is anhedonia. Anhedonia is the loss of pleasure in things we ordinarily would find joy in doing.  For many people, exercise and cooking healthy meals are activities bringing them joy.  However, when a depressive episode strikes, they may lose interest in these healthy activities.  In addition to anhedonia, loss of motivation is another symptom of depression.  It is challenging to lose weight if you aren’t motivated. 

Hopelessness is another symptom of depression. It is hard to make positive changes when feeling this way. Lastly, when people are depressed, healthy habits and ways of coping tend to go out the window and unhealthy forms take over.  Things like grabbing take out for most meals, drinking alcohol in excess, smoking marijuana leading to food cravings, binge eating, and eating high carbohydrate and sugary foods to soothe are all ways people with depression may turn to cope.

Depression, Weight Gain, and Helpful Treatment

Luckily, there are many healthy ways to manage weight while dealing with depression.  Most of these healthy ways start with awareness.  If one is aware they are snacking at 10PM, a solution might be to stop eating after dinner.  In addition, if one finds they stopped exercising, then they might engage in some movement that feels good. Taking walks out in nature or going on a hike with a friend could be helpful.  Also, if they aren’t eating anything for breakfast this behavior can cause them to binge later in the day. Eating something before 10 AM would be helpful.  Another point of awareness is if one acknowledges how much they are drinking. They might decide to cut it back to two beers instead of 4 and only on the weekends. 

Also, having an accountability partner can help.  For example, you and a friend texting each other everyday after you did some movement activity can help folks keep themselves on track.  When one starts to care for themselves in small manageable steps, these steps then build on one another eventually leading to more health, wellness, and mood improvement.

Give Yourself Some Grace

The other option when it comes to depression is to give yourself some grace.  Depression is often an episode, meaning it goes on for a period of time and doesn’t last forever.  People should be kind to themselves and let it be ok if they aren’t feeling motivated or finding joy.  It will return.  Sometimes medication can be helpful as well. Turning to medication when a depressive episode is going on too long or one cannot seem to find any motivation or will is always an option.  Talk to your doctor or psychiatrist if you are needing medication support.  

Depression, weight gain, and helpful treatment is available. Talk to your doctor or therapist around ways to get support. You can find out more information about weight gain and depression here. If you would like to talk with me about depression, please reach out to me here.