Experts find obesity, depression and alcohol abuse link

Many people in the throes of depression often turn to the bottle or food as a means of placating themselves, but new research shows that young women are more strongly affected.

According to a study from the University of Washington (UW), obesity, alcohol abuse and depression are all interrelated among young women aged between 20 and 30.

The experts analysed data from 776 adults aged 24, 27 and 30 and found that although many of the subjects suffered from one of these conditions at some point, only women tended to experience more than one at the same time.

Carolyn McCarty, the lead author of a new study and a UW research associate professor of paediatrics and psychology, told private health insurance holders that the proportion of young people experiencing all three conditions at once was rare.

"However, for women there is a great deal of overlap between these common emotional and health problems that span early adulthood. Men may develop one of these conditions but they don't tend to lead to another one later on," the expert said.

She added: "These conditions are major public health problems. They take a toll on families and community and are not subject to quick fixes. It requires a lot of time, money and energy to treat them."

According to the results of the study, women with an alcohol disorder at age 24 were more than three times as likely to be obese when they were 27.

In addition, women who are obese at 27 were more than twice as likely to be depressed when they were 30 and those who were depressed at 27 were at increased risk of alcohol disorders at 30.

Professor McCarty told those with affordable health insurance that men and women seem to differ greatly when it comes to turning to food and alcohol to enhance their mood.

"There seems to be a transfer that when women feel bad they eat more. That can have devastating effects emotionally and physically. But for men experiencing obesity, the reverse is true and obesity seems to be protective against depression," the specialist suggested.

By Louise Jones

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