[Science Saw] – A study Reveals What Most People Don’t Know About Depression and Eating Habit.
Highlights:
- A study finds that those with mood disorders like MDD and GAD struggle with managing eating habits.
- Researchers aimed to pinpoint biological markers linked to MDD, influenced by familial history, especially in women. The study explored if brain patterns could predict MDD, potentially differing by gender.
- With over 1,000 participants aged 18–55, the study included diverse individuals with mood, anxiety, substance or eating disorders, as well as healthy controls.
- Despite gender differences in body fat and hormones, the study didn’t find significant variations, challenging assumptions about hormone levels and mood disorders.
- While insightful, the study had limitations, including a higher proportion of medicated participants and a focus on lifetime rather than current major depression episodes.
- How to boost your appetite when suffering from depression.
Eating Disorder and Depression
So, there’s this recent study that’s all about figuring out the links between mood disorders like major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and how they connect to the way people eat.
Some cool researchers published their findings in the Journal of Psychiatric Research. It turns out that if you have these mood disorders, you might be more likely to have some issues with how you eat and control what you eat.
Now, why did these researchers want to dive into this topic? Well, they were curious about how mental health problems like MDD and GAD play along with our physical health.
They knew from other studies that these mood disorders often go hand in hand and can make each other worse.
But here’s the thing: they wanted to know more about how these mental health issues team up with physical stuff, like the hormones in our bodies and the way we live, especially when it comes to eating and exercising.
Jennifer Stewart, one of the main researchers was interested in finding “biological markers” for MDD. Basically, she wanted to see if there are patterns in the brain that can tell us if someone might have, already had or currently has MDD.
And she was curious if these patterns were different between boys and girls. She got into this because her family has a history of mood disorders, especially in women, and one of her team members, Breanna McNaughton wanted to explore how things like metabolism and overall health might link to MDD symptoms.
So, they kicked off this big project called the Tulsa 1000 (T-1000).
Imagine a thousand people between 18 and 55 years old, all joining in from different places. Some are healthy, some are dealing with mood, anxiety, substance use, or eating disorders. They wanted a mix to get a good picture.
The researchers split these people into three groups:
- Group one had people with just major depressive disorder and no other disorders in the past year.
- Group two had people with both major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder; again, there were no other past-year disorders.
- And the third group was made up of healthy folks with no lifetime diagnosis of major depressive disorder or any other past-year disorders.
Here’s where it gets technical. They did lots of things like interviews and medical check-ups, and even drew some blood to check out hormones.
They used a cool machine called the InBody 370 Body Composition Analyzer to see what the bodies were made of. Plus, they had these questionnaires about eating habits, eating disorders and how active everyone was.
So, what did they find out?
Well, girls generally had more of certain hormones and more body fat compared to boys, no matter their mental health.
But interestingly, the levels of these hormones weren’t too different between people with mood disorders and those without.
Now, when it comes to eating habits, that’s where it gets interesting. People with major depressive disorder, or both major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder seemed to struggle more with how they ate.
They were more likely to eat in response to stress and feel hungrier. Also, had a higher risk of developing eating disorders. It’s like their mood disorders were connected to how they managed their food, maybe not in the healthiest way.
Stewart, the researcher, pointed out that whether you are a boy or a girl, if you have had MDD, you might find it tough to control how much you eat and be super focused on your body weight and shape.
Now, the study was awesome, but it had some limitations. For example, more people in the study were on medications, which could have affected the results.
And they mostly focused on lifetime major depression rather than what’s happening right now, which might change things a bit.
So, in the end, Stewart thinks more research is needed. She mentioned something about the way our bodies sense things internally. She called it interoception, possibly messed up in people with MDD.
But they are not entirely sure when and how this happens.
So, for those going through depression episodes, it seems pretty common to struggle with how you eat. So, it’s a good idea to talk to professionals for extra help, like nutrition advice or mindfulness exercises.
Appetite
Appetite is a big deal. It’s not just about feeling hungry or full. It’s a mix of how our bodies work, what’s going on around us, and even how we’re feeling emotionally.
At its core, appetite is controlled by a bunch of different signals in our bodies. There are hormones like ghrelin that tell our brain we’re hungry and encourage us to eat. Others, like leptin say we’re full and help keep our appetites in check.
Our brain chemicals, like dopamine and serotonin, also have a say in how hungry or satisfied we feel by affecting our mood and reward systems.
But it’s not just our bodies calling the shots. Our surroundings and social situations also have a big impact on what and how much we eat.
Things like seeing or smelling food, cultural habits or even how we’re feeling emotionally can influence our appetite and food choices.
How to Boost Our Appetite When Suffering from Depression
So, you know how sometimes when you are feeling down, it can affect your appetite. That is, like not feeling hungry or not wanting to eat much?
Well, that’s one of the things depression can do. But the good news is, there are some things you can do to help with that.
Eat Good Stuff: Focus on eating foods that are really good for you, like fruits, veggies, lean proteins (that’s things like chicken or fish), whole grains (like brown rice or whole wheat bread), and healthy fats (like nuts or avocados).
These foods have lots of important vitamins and minerals that can help your body and mind.
Eat on a Schedule: Try to eat at regular times every day, like having breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus some snacks in between.
Even if you are not super hungry, having small, balanced meals throughout the day can help your body and appetite get into a routine.
So, make sure you are drinking enough water or other hydrating drinks like herbal teas. It’s good for your body and might help with your appetite too.
More, Smaller Meals
Instead of having three big meals, you can try having smaller meals more often. It might feel easier to eat a bit at a time, especially if big meals seem like too much.
Comfort Foods are OK. While it’s great to focus on healthy foods, it’s also totally fine to include some of your favorite comfort foods. These are the foods that make you feel good and happy. Balance is the key.
Move Around: Doing some exercise, even if it’s just a short walk or a light activity, can actually make you feel better. It’s like a boost to your mood and appetite.
Eat with Others: Try to have meals with friends or family. Eating together can make it more fun, and you might find it easier to eat when you’re not alone.
Finally, Talk to a Professional: If you are having a tough time with your appetite because of how you are feeling, it’s really important to talk to someone who can help.
A mental health professional or a dietitian (they are experts in food and nutrition) can give you personalized advice and support.