What is the relationship and influence between obesity and psychological factors?

Is obesity related to psychological factors?

It is well known that obesity is related to factors such as diet, exercise, and genetics. Recently, American scientists pointed out that the cause of obesity in some people is related to psychological factors. These people become obese due to depression, leading to uncontrollable overeating. Studies have found that people who eat carbohydrates feel more energetic and cheerful than those who eat other foods. This is mainly due to an increase in serotonin in the brain. Therefore, about one-third of people suffering from seasonal affective disorder crave carbohydrate-rich foods when depressed, thus becoming obese. Furthermore, some researchers have found that medications used to treat depression can increase serotonin levels in the brain, thus reducing the patient's intake of carbohydrates. This suggests that medications for treating depression also have a weight-loss effect.

Another condition is called gluttony syndrome. Patients are already overweight, but their appetite remains strong, and they eat very well. These patients suffer from satiety disorder. It is estimated that this group accounts for about 5% of obese individuals.

The main reason for obesity in these individuals is psychological factors.

Why can emotions affect a person's weight?

Let's talk about weight first. The saying "a cheerful heart makes a healthy body" refers to a state of emotional well-being, optimism, and carefree existence. These people sleep soundly, eat well, and have good digestion and absorption, naturally leading to obesity.

An interesting American survey found that while obesity was previously more common among high-income earners, it is now found to be relatively more prevalent among low-income groups. Scholars analyze that: those with lower incomes and less education tend to buy cheaper, high-fat foods; on the other hand, they may experience more stress and emotional instability, leading to overeating and obesity.

Now let's talk about thinness. The most typical example is Lin Daiyu from *Dream of the Red Chamber*. Due to her turbulent life, love life, and the harsh realities of her life, she became depressed, her body became increasingly thin, and she eventually became frail. A phenomenon known as "adolescent thinness" exists among modern women, primarily caused by emotional and psychological factors. A 1970s survey in Britain found that one in every 200 young women was experiencing adolescent thinness. These girls excessively focus on their slender figures during puberty, excessively pursuing "beauty in the figure," and have a fear of obesity.

Further research indicates that people frequently engaged in mentally stressful work, such as drivers, acrobats, and scaffolders, are more prone to thinness. The stressful state leads to reduced digestive fluid secretion, decreased appetite, and lower calorie intake, resulting in weight loss. Early research on stress has recognized weight loss as a "characteristic response."

Obese individuals cannot simply starve themselves to lose weight, and underweight individuals cannot simply overeat to gain weight. They must also adjust their psychological state and emotions to achieve their ideal weight loss or weight gain goals.