How Diet Affects Depression

6. Obesity

The connections between depression and obesity are complex and still not understood. People who are obese are 55% more likely to develop depression, while individuals with depression are 58% more likely to be obese. Higher levels of inflammation are also present in those with obesity, forming another link with depression.

Some experts suggest that both depression and obesity result from mechanisms like HPA axis dysregulation and its effect on reward circuitry, metabolism, and dietary intake. Diets with positive effects on these mechanisms tend to be healthier and lower in calories, promising improvements for both conditions.