Why Depression Leads to Weight Gain

Does a blue mood lead to a bigger belly? People who feel anxious or depressed are more likely to pack on pounds than happy folks, finds a study in the International Journal of Obesity.

And weight gain isn’t limited to a clinical diagnosis: In the study, participants who simply showed symptoms like feeling tense, unsettled, or despondent gained weight and were more likely to become obese over an 11 year period.

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Why? When you're in a funk, your motivation gets hit the hardest. “Depression is like constantly being pressed down, so being motivated to do almost anything is out of the question,” says Rob Dobrenski, Ph.D., author of Crazy: Notes on and Off the Couch. So while not everyone with mood disorders gains weight, physical activity requires more motivation than you have—and comfort food can provide temporary relief.

If you think you have depression or anxiety, tell your doctor. But in the meantime, fake it 'til you feel it. “People with depression often say ‘When I feel better, I’ll do it.’ But it’s the opposite—you have to act happy to feel happy,” says Dobrensky.

Spend the day playing the role of someone who isn’t depressed—seriously. Emulating someone without a mood disorder isn’t a cure-all, Dobrensky says, but it can help break through the feelings of being stuck.

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