Author(s)

Yanhong Gong, Dafang Wang, Xiulan Zhang, Zhiyong Qu, Pozi Liu, Hong Zou

Department of Mental Health, Yuquan Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Department of Paediatrics, Yuquan Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
School of Social Development and Public Policy, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China;.
School of Social Development and Public Policy, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China;School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.

Depression and obesity (BMI ≥ 30) have been recognized as major public health issues worldwide. Although they have traditionally been compartmentalized as separate physical and emotional health conditions, evidence has suggested interactions and common pathways between them, implying that they probably shared common underlying biological mechanisms. By a systematic review of the literature and knowledge mining, we explore a potential biological mechanism of obesity effects on depression. Bioactivators in the body of obesity including adiponectin, leptin and its receptors, ghrelin, endocannabinoids and orexin receptors may contribute to depression by the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis, psycho-neuro-immunological system, neurovegetative system and brain areas control of mood and emotion such as hippocampus, cortex and amygdala.

Obesity; Depression; Biological Mechanisms; Literature and Knowledge Mining

Gong, Y. , Wang, D. , Zhang, X. , Qu, Z. , Liu, P. and Zou, H. (2013) The potential biological mechanisms of obesity effects on depression: A systematic review of the literature and knowledge mining. Health, 5, 1811-1818. doi: 10.4236/health.2013.511244.