'Why do I binge eat when I feel low?': Experts explain the link between depression and weight gain

Eating in response to feelings – rather than physical hunger – is common. It could be an extra couple of biscuits when you feel sad, or the whole packet. And for some people living with depression, this might happen regularly.

Now, new research suggests people who are already overweight or obese are even more likely to be affected by the link between depression and behaviours that can cause weight gain, like emotional or binge-eating.

Academics from the University of Cambridge’s Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit examined data from 2,133 adults – tracking symptoms of depression, anxiety and perceived stress on an app, as well as weight measurements over six to nine months.

The research found that each time the score for depressive symptoms increased, the person’s weight one month later increased by an average of 45g. However, for those already within the ‘overweight’ BMI range, this average increase was 52g for each increased score of depressive symptoms, while for those with a BMI over 30 (classed as the obese range), it was 71g.

First author Dr Julia Mueller said her team “can’t draw any firm conclusions about what caused” the findings, as it was an observational study. But they “suggest that people may react to negative emotions in different ways”.

She added: “Some coping mechanisms for dealing with negative emotions might lead to weight gain, like eating more energy-dense foods, known as ’emotional eating’, whereas other coping mechanisms, like talking to a friend, would not lead to weight gain.