Mental disorders and weight-loss linked

[Sherrie]

Mental disorders and weight-loss linked (http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=31&art_id=nw20070302160433233C897491)

[Alies]

That title is so misleading...the article is about people with a history of mental disorder seeking weight-loss surgery, so it's actually saying they're more likely to be overweight.

[Moonie]

Yep the title sounds like, if you have a mental disorder you will lose weight!!!!

[LC_Dave]

Like all weight related things, and modern diseases, I see a common connection:- The consumption of carbohydrates.

Trace all lifestyle related diseases and you will see a link to our High Carb Society Diet.

Now I wonder if there is a cancer link????? Is this why we haven't found a cure yet????? Just throwing that out there. Maybe some cancers like pancreatic cancer can be prevented?

[Sherrie]

The way I read that article is that they are saying that the people who resort to such drastic measures are more likely to suffer mental illness.

We as a society always interpret lack of motivation as 'weak' but we all know it isn't that simple!!!

A lot of the time lack of motivation is much more then that. When your depressed and/or suffer from very low self esteem amongst other issues it can seem almost impossible to get motivated, pick yourself up and go for a walk, say no to those cravings etc

We as a society need to understand that more!

[Moonie]

About two-thirds of people seeking weight-loss surgery have suffered from a psychiatric disorder at some point in their lives
I would think those that finally resort to stomach stapling/banding, have low self esteem and become depressed because nothing else works...That the obesity was the reason for their depression...

[Sherrie]

Could very well be!!!

Could be the other way around too, ie obesity as a result of depression/self esteem issues and the drugs they give you!

[Moonie]

Oh I agree, the drugs that are handed out for depression often result in weight gain...but all overweight people that want to have surgery, shouldn't be lumped together as having a mental disorder..

I don't like depression coming under the mental disorder umbrella anyway!!!!

[Sherrie]

No neither do I!

(but maybe thats our percieved stigma talking)

[Moonie]

Could be, but I can't relate someone with depression to some one who is deranged...
To me depression is more of a nervous disorder not mental...

[Sherrie]

But you see, thats because we relate the word mental to a severly crazy person, it has become a dirty word and it is not.

The way you think about your self is mental, forgetting things is mental, anxiety is mental, bad concentration/confusion is mental. We get all uncomfortable when we hear mental disorder but really it is just a broad term for all sorts of things that can go on in our heads, whether its triggerred by emotions, behaviours, genes hormones etc...

Heck some of the most intelligent people sufferred from some type of mental disorder.

By relating mental to mean deranged (which I am guilty of too) we are lumping all others with a mental disorder in the same basket. Whats worse is because of this taboo a lot feel too ashamed to seek help or tell anyone.

When Garry did what he did I hummed and harred all last week whether I should say something or not... why? because I was worried what others would think...

But you know I then decided by not saying anything I was also contributing to the "taboo" and hey I have always been a bit rebellious ;)

[Moonie]

Oh I agree completely with what you say!! doesn't mean that I like them all being lumped together though..

Years ago I had a nervous breakdown, and was told there is a fine line between a nervous and a mental breakdown..
To me depression is more a neurological complaint, when really it is classed as a mental disorder..
When Garry did what he did I hummed and harred all last week whether I should say something or not... why? because I was worried what others would think... Not like you to worry about what people would think!!!:D

I know a lot of famous people suffered from depression, some were even crazy in an eccentric sort of way (remember Professor Somner Miller)
Yes there are a lot of people who don't get help because they won't have it that they have a mental disorder...Like you say the word has a stigma attached to it..

[Sherrie]

Moonie I guess I kind of think of them both as one in the same. Eg I think of mental disorders being also neurological the difference being that they are treated by a psychiatrist rather then a neurologist.

[Moonie]

Yep you are right they are all treated by a psychiatrist...Hense the stigma..

[Sherrie]

But it doesn't make the stigma valid!

[LC_Dave]

I still suffer from bad bouts of depression, but I suppose I am still obese...

[Moonie]

I still suffer from bad bouts of depression, but I suppose I am still obese...Do you think the depression will go when you are as skinny as a beanpole?????

[Sherrie]

I don't.

Dave, whatever you do don't pin the weight loss as being the solution, it may help yes but depression that goes on unresolved has a funny way of biting you on the bum when you least expect it.