2023-10-11 18:51:38
The relationship between obesity and mental health is a growing concern around the world. According to Dr. Héctor Esquivias, head of the Department of Continuing Education at the “Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz” National Institute of Psychiatry (INPRFM), between 30 and 60% of people living with obesity have some mental health condition. such as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem or eating disorders. This connection is accentuated by the presence of a condition called emotional hunger, in which emotions trigger the desire to overeat.
Obesity has become a global epidemic that affects not only the physical health but also the mental health of millions of people around the world. Especially in Mexico, where according to the results of the National Health and Nutrition Survey (Ensanut 2022), 75.2% of adults over 20 years of age in the country live with this disease, with women being the most affected, with 76.8%, while men register 73.5%.
On the other hand, Dr. Esquivias highlighted that “obesity not only entails physical risks such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, but also has a significant impact on people’s mental well-being. The close relationship between obesity and mental health is because people with obesity often face psychological challenges such as decreased self-esteem, depression, anxiety and social stigma, factors that can aggravate their physical and mental health. .
Current statistics show a high prevalence of mental disorders in the general population; In some studies in people with obesity, these percentages increase even more. Therefore, it is essential to highlight that obesity and these mental health problems are closely related due to a series of additional factors, such as alteration of brain chemical processes, sleep disorders and changes in eating habits that can influence Mental health.
“Specialized mental health care is crucial to improve the quality of life of those who live with mental illnesses associated with their weight, therefore, it is important to consider health in a comprehensive way, both physical and mental, since in reality they are aspects interconnected that we must attend to to fully develop. All our daily activities, such as work, rest time, our eating habits and even physical activity, have a direct impact on our mental and emotional health,” said the psychiatrist.
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