Get Help For Depression And Your Obesity Health Risks Today

Depression Symptoms In Women Occur Frequently During Middle Age

The most common method of determining obesity is with body mass index (BMI). Achieving weight loss over 40 for women is difficult and unfortunately, obesity rates are twice as high if you are depressed.

The most common number used to determine if a woman is overweight is 25. When your BMI goes over 30 you are considered obese, ouch!

This is like the story of the chicken or the egg. It's not clear if obesity brings on depression or depression brings on obesity.

We do know that obesity is much greater in women over 40. Many factors can play into this, but most likely depression is the biggest factor of all.

4,462 women were followed in a study performed in the Pacific Northwest. One of the most important findings in this study was the escalation of medical bills and hospitalizations compared to the general population.

Two other factor related to women with a body mass index above 30 include:

    Less exercise was performed
    More calories were eaten (20% more on average)

Self-esteem appears to be at center stage when it comes to losing weight. Women in the 30 and above BMI category are well aware of their weight issues.

The biggest problem many obese women face is hopelessness. They feel like there isn't a way out and this brings on even deeper depression.

Here are 5 things you can do right now to overcome your depression about your obesity health risks:

    Keep a strict journal of everything you eat for a week, when you eat and why you ate it
    Reduce your calorie intake by 400-500 calories per day
    Find a way to beat your depression first
    Have a support team that may include family members, forums and friends
    Hire a psychologist. You will be surprised how much they can help you

If you don't start implementing a plan, you run the risk of allowing your obesity health risks to become very serious and life threatening. Treat your depression first before your start a weight loss program, otherwise it will never work.

Just like when you took your first steps as a child, take baby steps again. Don't fall for the quick weight loss gimmicks because you will be on another diet in a couple of months, guaranteed!

Once you have your depression under control, then the weight loss part will be more manageable.