New Links Among Common Diseases in Women

A recent study from a team at the University of Washington found new links between alcohol abuse, depression and obesity in young women.

Specifically, the study of 776 young adults found that females with an alcohol problem at age 24 were more than three times as likely to be obese at 27. The study also found that obese women at 27 were more than twice as likely to be depressed at 30. Females depressed at 27 were at increased risk for alcohol disorders when they were 30.

Carolyn McCarty, UW research associate professor of pediatrics and psychology, said:

“For women there is a great deal of overlap between these common emotional and health problems that span early adulthood. Men may develop one of these conditions but they don’t tend to lead to another one later on.”

McCarty said that the caloric intake often found with drinking alcohol may lead to weight gain, possibly explaining the connection between obesity and alcohol abuse. She said other women may substitute food for alcohol.

McCarty also believes that body image may play a role in the connection between obesity and depression. She believes that intervention programs addressing stress management and helping young women deal with situations and emotions may be beneficial to preventing the cycles of depression, alcohol abuse and obesity.

If you’ve suffered from any of these problems, do you think they were related?

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