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Review
. 2025 Jan 3;14(1):5.
doi: 10.1007/s13679-024-00603-x.

Depression and Obesity

Gina Gerardo  1 , Ninoska Peterson  2 , Kasey Goodpaster  2 , Leslie Heinberg  2
Affiliations
Review

Depression and Obesity

Gina Gerardo et al. Curr Obes Rep. .

Abstract

To summarize the recent literature regarding the interaction between the public health concerns of obesity and depression and provide preliminary recommendations for assessment and management of patients with co-occurring obesity and depression. RECENT FINDINGS : Recent studies have reinforced that while there is a bi-directional link between obesity and depression, there is stronger evidence that obesity contributes to the development of depression. Recent research has also elucidated potential mediating factors in the association between depression and obesity (e.g., demographical, biological, and psychological) as well as a moderating effect of treatment of depression on outcomes for treatment of obesity. There is evidence to suggest that in co-occurring depression and obesity, it is beneficial to treat depression first. Cognitive behavioral therapies have demonstrated effectiveness in treating co-occurring depression and obesity and there is preliminary evidence suggesting that increasing emotion regulation and reducing weight bias internalization may be important treatment targets.

Keywords: Assessment; Depression; Obesity; Treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent: All reported studies/experiments with human or animal subjects performed by the authors have been previously published and complied with all applicable ethical standards (including the Helsinki declaration and its amendments, institutional/national research committee standards, and international/national/institutional guidelines).

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