It is estimated that 1 out of 3 Americans suffer from depressive episodes. The classic symptoms of depression include:
- Feelings of sadness/crying spells
- Loss of interest in activities that used to be of interest
- Withdrawal from friends and loved ones
- Lack of energy
- Pessimism about what the future holds
- Poor sleep patterns
Depression is usually due to a combination of internal chemical imbalances (serotonin is one of those vitally important chemicals) and environmental factors. Concerning the environmental factors, the pandemic and surrounding social unrest have most certainly has been a huge contributing factor to many people feeling depression symptoms.
There is no doubt that depression negatively impacts weight control efforts. Here are 3 major reasons:
- The depressed person usually lacks passion/caring/focus on activities. We all know that effective weight control requires LOTS of focus, planning etc.
- Depression often produces a lack of energy. With weight control requiring a contributing element of exercise, this lack of energy often diminishes this component.
- Depressed people will often turn to high caloric foods/alcohol drinks in the quest to “treat” the depression. These foods/drinks will of course derail weight control efforts.
Whether you are struggling with weight control or not, we should all assess whether we are experiencing some/lots of depression symptoms. Ask your closest relatives and friends if they notice anything about you that would suggest depression is present. Also, here is a self-assessment tool called the Zung Scale: https://psychology-tools.com/test/zung-depression-scale.
Additionally, take our serotonin balance assessment at: www.spdiet.com.
Depression is nothing to be hidden or ashamed of. If you need help, reach out to your doctor or feel to contact me at: robertposnermd@spdiet.com