Depression, also referred to as major depressive disorder, can have its links to your eating habits and vice versa. Individuals who are depressed either don’t like to eat anything or find comfort in eating and therefore, eat a lot. When struggling with depression, eating habits tend to change gradually and take the form of an eating disorder. Understanding the relationship between the two can play a pivotal role in determining, diagnosing, and treating the stress-related eating disorder.

Relation Between Depression and Eating Disorders

Depression hits differently to individuals based on several factors, such as genetics, environmental factors, and the person’s brain chemistry. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 70.7% of adults with bulimia nervosa, 46.4% of adults with binge-eating disorder, and 42.1% of adults with anorexia nervosa suffer from depression.

Emotional eating can develop depression in an individual. They confuse negative emotions, such as anger, stress, or sadness, with hunger. Therefore, feel the urge to eat more than usual. Thus, the food becomes a tool to relieve the symptoms of depression. It helps them neutralize their negative emotions. Certain food items are found to promote dopamine levels, thereby providing a rush of pleasure to the individuals.

Different Types of Eating Disorders and Their Connection with Depression

There are different types of eating disorders, and depression can co-occur with any of the conditions.

Anorexia and Depression

Anorexia Nervosa is a psychological disorder related to food, wherein the person develops an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception related to the weight. It can cause an abnormally low body weight. About 42% of the individuals with anorexia are likely to experience co-morbid depression.

The common symptoms observed in these two disorders are low self-esteem and body dissatisfaction. These feelings can be credited to promote any of these health disorders. It is hard to determine which one occurs first. Besides, the dynamics of depressive and eating disorders may vary from one person to another.

Depression can lead to abnormal eating behavior or problematic thinking related to food. Others with Anorexia might experience depressive symptoms due to malnutrition, insomnia, or hopelessness. Regardless of their chronological order, co-occurring depression and anorexia can have severe consequences on an individual’s health.

Depression and Binge Eating

Binge eating is an eating disorder, wherein you start eating excessively and feel no control over it. You eat more frequently and eat a larger amount of food as compared to normal meals. 46% of the individuals who suffer from binge eating disorder also experience depressive symptoms.

In most cases, people eat to suppress their negative thoughts or feelings, such as anger, sadness, depression, etc. Eating certain food releases dopamine, which is a happy hormone. So, eating helps them to get over their sadness or depression.

If someone who binge eats is not currently depressed can have a history of depression in the past. The common symptoms of BED and depression may include shame, guilt, low self-esteem, and hopelessness. About half of the people develop depression after binge eating.

Bulimia and Depression

Bulimia Nervosa, commonly referred to as bulimia, is one of the most severe forms of eating disorder that often turns out to be life-threatening. It is a combination disorder, wherein the individual binge eats in the first place.

Subsequently, they develop a guilt or shame related to their poor eating habits and start starving themselves. Besides, they also try to get rid of the food in unhealthy ways, such as vomiting or exploiting laxatives.

About 70.7% of the individuals with bulimia are diagnosed with the depressive disorder as well. Moreover, they can show different common symptoms, such as feeling out of control, low self-worth, loneliness, inadequacy, and anger or irritability.

Eating Disorder Treatment and Therapies with Depression

When the co-occurring symptoms of eating disorders and depression are identified, it becomes easier to address the conditions together. As we discussed earlier, it is hard to determine what’s the root cause of the other problem; they must be treated simultaneously. The treatment plan must include co-occurring conditions as an integral part of it.

The combination of psychotherapy (talk therapy) and nutritional counselling can address both conditions, including the eating disorder and anxiety or depression related to it. They also involve the family or caregivers into the treatment process to ensure its effectiveness. The participation of the caregivers can significantly change the treatment outcomes.

The After choosing one, they can help you with the physical stabilization while relieving the symptoms of the depressive disorder. Restoring adequate nutrition is crucial as it makes the body more responsive towards all forms of the treatments.

Finding the Right Help

You can look for a therapist in your vicinity and book a consultation. You may ask for referrals from your friends or family members to connect to a professional psychotherapist. Experience is imperative in this search. By keeping these helpful points in your consideration, you can find the best psychiatrist for depression and eating disorder.