Obesity, which affects 17% of the population in France, can increase the risk of developing certain mental illnesses.
- According to a new study, obesity promotes the occurrence of several mental illnesses.
- To reach this conclusion, Austrian researchers studied the medical data of 9 million hospitalized patients in Austria between 1997 and 2014.
- Result: people with obesity had an increased risk of depression, addiction, anxiety, psychoses, eating disorders (ED) and personality disorders compared to the rest of the population.
A new study conducted by Austrian researchers from the Complexity Science Hub Vienna highlights that obesity is a condition that can have implications for the mental health of those who suffer from it.
Obese women are more at risk of mental illnesses
To reach this conclusion, the researchers looked at medical data from nine million hospitalized patients in Austria between 1997 and 2014. They found that people with obesity were more likely to develop personality disorders, eating behavior, depression, anxiety, addictions and psychoses compared to the rest of the population.
They also discovered that obese women were more exposed than obese men to these risks. Data from Austrian national registries also showed that obesity is often diagnosed before mental disorders, especially in young people and in women.
These results highlight the importance of understanding the links between obesity and mental disorders in order to prevent their onset.”In obese patients, it is essential to remain alert to signs that may indicate the development of mental pathology“conclude the Austrian researchers.
17% of French people suffer from obesity
In France, nearly 17% of the adult population suffers from obesity according to an Inserm survey published in February 2023. “Obesity is a global public health problem, the incidence of which is constantly increasing. According to the WHO, since 1975, the number of cases of obesity has almost tripled on a global scale”, commented on this occasion the research institute.
Obesity is associated with many comorbidities and high mortality. It is estimated that this complex chronic disease increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders and many forms of cancer (endometrial, breast, ovarian, prostate, liver, gallbladder, kidney, colon, etc.). More recently, data has shown that people with obesity are more prone to severe forms of Covid-19.
