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Chapter 10 - Obesity and Mental Health

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 October 2021

By
Aoife M. Egan
Edited by
Anne M. Doherty ,
Aoife M. Egan  and
Sean Dinneen
Anne M. Doherty
Affiliation:
University College Dublin
Aoife M. Egan
Affiliation:
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Mayo Clinic, Minnesota, USA
Sean Dinneen
Affiliation:
School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway
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Summary

Over 650 million people live with obesity worldwide, and almost all countries are affected by what is considered a global obesity pandemic. It is one of the factors that contribute to excess premature mortality in patients with severe mental illness, who die 15–20 years younger than the general population. Both obesity and mental health disorders are highly prevalent and frequently occur in the same individual. While weight loss is typically associated with improvements in psychological functioning, a certain proportion of patients will develop new psychological issues or experience a relapse of pre-existing conditions. Further work is needed to clarify the underlying biological mechanisms explaining the relationship between obesity and mental health. In the interim, people with obesity should receive care in a multidisciplinary setting with access to mental healthcare integrated with their obesity care.

Keywords

endocrinologyobesitydiabetesdepressionmental health
Type
Chapter
Information
Mental Health, Diabetes and Endocrinology , pp. 106 - 115
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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