Poor body image is linked to mental health, but the cause and effect relationship with depression is unclear. Negative body image can lead to depression and vice versa. Obesity, eating disorders, and dieting can also contribute to depression. Unrealistic media expectations about appearance can affect body image and self-worth, leading to depression and even suicidal feelings.
Studies have found a correlation between poor body image and mental health, however the cause and effect relationship between poor body image and depression is unclear. A negative body image can be a result of depression and, conversely, a negative body image can increase feelings of depression. Associations between body image and depression have been found among obese people and among those suffering from anorexia and bulimia. Some studies have found a link between diet and depression. Body image and feelings of self-worth are particularly vulnerable to mass media that create unrealistic expectations about appearance.
Research on obesity and depression has identified a clear connection between body image and depression, but the cause and effect relationship is unclear. Since one of the symptoms of depression can be overeating, a depressed person can become obese. Obese people, especially women, are more likely to have low self-esteem, be dissatisfied with their appearance, and feel guilty. These feelings can lead to depression. Social prejudice against the obese also contributes to the anxiety and stress felt by overweight people.
People with eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, also have higher levels of depression, although these conditions don’t always go hand in hand. Obsession with food and body image leads to a vicious cycle of low self-esteem, guilt, and distorted perceptions that can cause depression. In these cases both the eating disorder and depression should be treated by a mental health professional.
The practice of dieting is rampant in the West, especially in the United States, where obesity levels have skyrocketed. Ironically, studies have found a connection with diet and increased levels of depression. Diets often interfere with social interaction and induce feelings of guilt. Diets or poor eating habits can also lead to a lack of essential nutrients which can further affect depression levels.
Notions about body image develop in part from exposure to television and the press, where women in particular are often sexualized. Even people who aren’t depressed or have an eating disorder can be obsessed with body image. Many women and men feel pressure to live up to the ideals created by the media, and many experience poor body image and depression as a result of this pressure.
In the West, thinness has come to symbolize economic status, achievement, and discipline. One study found that 89% of women wanted to lose weight. However, for most women, the idealized notion of thinness is an unattainable goal that leads to frustration, guilt, decreased self-esteem, and many times depression.
Research has found that girls who objectify their bodies and who try to achieve unrealistic ideals of thinness are more likely to suffer from depression and even suicidal feelings. Among teenage girls, surveys have shown that 59% feel fat and want to lose weight. Girls on the extreme diet also received poorer nutrition and ate fewer fruits and vegetables than those on the non-diet, thus compromising their growth and overall health.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
