The Coexistence of Obesity in the Adult With Depression, Essay Example

Problem Statement

Obesity in the adult population represents a serious problem that has created many challenges for individuals who also face depression in their daily lives. This combination creates significant concerns for adults due to multiple factors related to the comorbidities of these conditions. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the different concerns that exist and to be cognizant of the challenges related to obesity in the depressed adult over time. From a nursing perspective, treating patients with these conditions requires a detailed approach that emphasizes the importance of managing outcomes for these patients, as they face greater risks under these conditions. Patients with obesity and depression must be treated with a greater level of attention and focus in order to determine how to minimize the risks associated with these conditions, using nurse-led involvement as a guide in this transition process. The following discussion will address obesity and depression in greater detail and will emphasize the importance of developing a framework that captures the need for additional support and guidance in developing a framework to manage these comorbid conditions effectively and efficiently to improve quality of life for all patients needing support and treatment.

Context

It is believed that to some extent, depression and obesity are related to the extent that obesity is a product of depression and vice versa, depending on an individual’s overall health status and circumstances (Pan et.al, 2012). Between 2005 and 2010, 34 percent of adults were obese and 7.2 percent had depression, which signifies the importance of understanding the health risks related to these conditions when they exist on a concurrent basis (Pratt & Brody, 2014). It is believed that “Understanding the relationship between depression (defined by moderate to severe symptoms) and antidepressant usage and obesity may inform treatment and prevention strategies for both conditions” (Pratt & Brody, 2014, p. 1). This process requires an effective understanding of the risks associated with obesity and how it affects depression and vice versa, as there are significant issues related to the development of a strategy to manage depression effectively while also aiming to promote weight loss in the obese patient (Pratt & Brody, 2014). For patients who are depressed and who are on medication, there may be a greater tendency to have obese tendencies because the medication itself may promote weight gain, along with dietary habits; therefore, these issues must be addressed effectively through the development of new ideas and strategies as developed by nurses to work with patients who are obese and who also experience depression in order to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life (Pratt & Brody, 2014).

Obesity and body-mass index (BMI) also represent a higher risk of other challenges that are related to the depressive state and require an understanding of the different risks that impact patient wellbeing, including significant changes that pose a risk of developing major depression (Opel et.al, 2015). Due to the nature of the relationship between BMI and depression, this must be closely evaluated in order to determine its full impact on patient care and treatment across the spectrum, thereby increasing the potential for improvements in diagnosis and treatment in order to achieve the desired outcomes (Marshall, 2014). In addition, it is speculated that this problem patients in different ways that have a lasting impact on patient outcomes, including the prevalence of abdominal obesity in some patients (Xu, Anderson, & Lurie-Beck, 2011). In this context, there is a strong need to develop a framework that understands the relationship between obesity and depression in order to minimize some of the outcomes that are likely to occur in patients with these conditions (Xu et.al, 2011). Most importantly, it is necessary to evaluate the conditions under which patients are evaluated in this context so that they are able to receive the best possible treatment under their specific circumstances, using existing research and knowledge in this area (Carey et.al, 2014). This process suggests the development of new ideas that will have a lasting impact on patients and on the development of a nurse-led strategies to support and preserve patient health and wellbeing as best as possible (Carey et.al, 2014). Since there are many adverse health impacts associated with obesity and depression, these considerations must be taken into account when addressing the specific needs of this patient population and the issues that are likely to take precedent when treating these conditions on a concurrent basis (Carey et.al, 2014).

When adults are obese, there is a greater tendency to experience depression due to the physical, psychological, and emotional consequences related to this condition (Xiang & An, 2014). From this perspective, there appears to be a clinical significance between the prevalence of obesity and the risk of depression and vice versa, given the possible impact of obesity on the psychological and mental health of many patients (Xiang & An, 2014). Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the conditions under which there are significant opportunities to address potentially negative outcomes for patients with obesity and depression and how to best overcome the challenges that they face throughout the treatment process (Xiang & An, 2014). It is important to identify a strategy to improve outcomes and to be effective in addressing the needs of these patients as they struggle with obesity and depression in different ways that impact their quality of life (Xiang & An, 2014). There are considerable advantages to developing a nursing-based set of protocols that will have a lasting impact on patients and on the development of an effective approach that will have an important influence on patient care and the type of treatment that is identified for these patients (Xiang & An, 2014).

Obesity and depression must be examined in a comprehensive manner in order to accomplish the intended outcomes. Patients within specific adult age groups may face an even higher risk, thereby creating new challenges that must be considered as part of a larger treatment strategy, such as pre and post-menopausal women who face a high risk of these conditions under certain circumstances (Zedler et.al, 2014). These perspectives demonstrate that “Menopausal status may be a moderator for the association of obesity and depression, which – given the interaction between these 2 risk factors – may be of preventive importance in regard to the development of cardiovascular outcomes” (Zedler et.al, 2014, p. 128). Therefore, it is important to identify some of the specific risk factors and to examine the overall strategies that are available to treat these patients effectively and without significant complications that may have a lasting impact on quality of life for these patients (Zedler et.al, 2014).

Finally, the existence of specific dietary patterns must be considered as part of a framework to treat patients who face the concurrent risk of obesity and depression, as these reflect the importance of understanding how diet has an impact on both areas (Buys & Sun, 2013). Dietary habits and preferences are a significant component of the obese state; therefore, these must be addressed on a continuous basis as part of a larger framework to evaluate patients to ensure that their diets are appropriate in order to stimulate weight loss and to potentially alleviate some of the symptoms of depression that may exist (Buys & Sun, 2013). This will demonstrate the importance of comprehensive evaluations in order to improve patient outcomes and to be effective in meeting the needs of this population over the long term (Buys & Sun, 2013). Most importantly, patients must be provided with a framework to address obesity through gradual lifestyle changes and to be cognizant of how these changes might also alleviate some of the symptoms of depression that often exist within this patient population (Buys & Sun, 2013). This will encourage the development of new strategies as proposed by nurses to ensure that patients receive the proper attention and focus throughout the treatment process that is chosen (Buys & Sun, 2013).

Approach/Methods

In order to establish an effective strategy to address the comorbid conditions of obesity and depression, it is important to develop a strategy that will encompass new ideas and provide a basis for examining the different areas of treating this population effectively to improve outcomes. Therefore, an evaluation of the physical, psychological, mental, social, and emotional contexts of these conditions must ultimately be considered, as this will provide a framework to accommodate patients and to be effective in meeting patient care needs on a consistent basis. A systematic review of existing studies may serve as a positive step towards the discovery of new ideas and approaches to improve patient care for this population as their needs evolve and change over time.

A systematic review of existing studies will serve as a facilitator of the development of new ideas to treat current and future patients with these conditions in order to alleviate some of the risk of negative outcomes and to be proactive in meeting patient care needs in an effective manner without significant complications. It imperative that addressing negative outcomes must serve as the primary focus of these studies and that there must be a strategy in place to support this plan, given the needs of this patient population and the significant challenges that they face in this area. A systematic review will likely generate evidence that may be used to facilitate new ideas and approaches for nurses to treat patients with these conditions on a concurrent basis to address the most formidable risks and to also demonstrate that there must be a greater focus on both conditions as part of a larger treatment strategy over the long term to ensure that patients are able to effectively overcome these conditions.

References

Buys, N., & Sun, J. (2013). Relationship between obesity and depression in older Australian adults and examination of dietary patterns as influencing factors. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 15(5), 263-274.

Carey, M., Small, H., Yoong, S. L., Boyes, A., Bisquera, A., & Sanson-Fisher, R. (2014). Prevalence of comorbid depression and obesity in general practice: a cross-sectional survey. British Journal of General Practice, 64(620), e122-e127.

Marshall, R. R. (2014). Depression and Obesity: A Literature Review. Undergraduate Journal of Psychology, 27(1).

Mazzeschi, C., Pazzagli, C., Buratta, L., Reboldi, G. P., Battistini, D., Piana, N., … & De Feo, P. (2012). Mutual interactions between depression/quality of life and adherence to a multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention in obesity. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 97(12), E2261-E2265.

Opel, N., Redlich, R., Grotegerd, D., Dohm, K., Heindel, W., Kugel, H., … & Dannlowski, U. (2015). Obesity and major depression: Body-mass index (BMI) is associated with a severe course of disease and specific neurostructural alterations. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 51, 219-226.

Pan, A., Sun, Q., Czernichow, S., Kivimaki, M., Okereke, O. I., Lucas, M., … & Hu, F. B. (2011). Bidirectional association between depression and obesity in middle-aged and older women. International journal of obesity, 36(4), 595-602.

Pratt, L. A., & Brody, D. J. (2014). Depression and Obesity in the US Adult Household Population, 2005–2010. Women, 20, 39.

Xiang, X., & An, R. (2014). Obesity and Onset of Depression among US Middle-aged and Older Adults. Journal of psychosomatic research.

Xu, Q., Anderson, D., & Lurie-Beck, J. (2011). The relationship between abdominal obesity and depression in the general population: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obesity research & clinical practice, 5(4), e267-e278.

Zedler, B., von Lengerke, T., Emeny, R., Heier, M., Lacruz, M. E., & Ladwig, K. H. (2013). [Obesity and Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety in Pre-and Postmenopausal Women: A Comparison of Different Obesity Indicators.]. Psychotherapie, Psychosomatik, medizinische Psychologie.