Page "Abdominal obesity" Paragraph 53

Besides the health aspect of the subject, obesity has a strong influence on one's general mood and behaviour.

According to an article in the American Journal of Epidemiology, the percentage of depression in people of normal body weight was about 2. 79 %.

12. 51 % of people with class 3 obesity, which is classified as a BMI greater or equal to 40, however, were found to suffer from DIS / DSM-III major depression.

Society and media defines beauty as a figure that is slim and toned, and therefore only deals with the physical aspect of the person and deem people suffering from obesity as " unattractive ".

This may contribute to, or explain in whole or in part, symptoms of depression in such patients.