What is it about?
This study shows that depression can lead to both poor nutrition and unhealthy weight gain, creating a harmful cycle. This creates a vicious cycle where depression and weight-related issues reinforce each other, making it harder to break free without proper intervention.
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Why is it important?
It’s important because depression doesn’t just affect mental health, it can also lead to serious physical health problems in older people. When depression increases the risk of conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure, it makes healthy aging more difficult. Understanding this connection can help improve care and prevention strategies, reducing the impact of non-communicable diseases and improving quality of life for older adults.
Perspectives
Coming from Africa, I’ve seen how depression is often considered a taboo subject in many cultures. Through my work as a practising clinician, I’ve observed that many older adults who show signs of depression also tend to have a higher burden of comorbidities. This connection sparked my interest in the field, highlighting the need to address mental health as a crucial part of overall well-being in older populations.
Shane Naidoo
University of Cape Town
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Depression’s double-edged impact on body mass index. A hidden catalyst for non-communicable diseases in South Africa’s aging population in long-term care facilities, PLOS One, February 2025, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0319188.
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