Understanding the bidirectional association between obesity and risk of psychological distress and depression in young adults in the US: available evidence, knowledge gaps, and future directions

The Impact of Obesity and Mental Health in Young Adults

Although the physical effects of obesity are widely known, a new study shows that it also has a major negative influence on mental health. Young adults, navigating a crucial transitional period in their lives, may be particularly vulnerable to both obesity and its associated mental health challenges. This review by Friedman et al. (2025) aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between obesity and two well-established indicators of mental health: psychological distress and depression. The link between obesity and mental health is influenced by a complex interaction of biological and sociocultural factors, which this review examines with a specific focus on individuals aged 20–39. Additionally, the effects of demographic factors such as race/ethnicity, gender, and immigration status are explored in detail. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this review is among the first to integrate existing research on obesity and mental health while considering the role of key sociodemographic variables. Given the increasing prevalence of both obesity and mental health disorders, this work has significant implications for addressing two major public health crises in the United States. [NPID: Obesity, depression, psychological distress, young adults, cardiovascular health, social determinants of health, SDOH, mental health]

Year: 2025

Reference: Friedman, M., Chang, R., Amin, Z. M., Rajan, T., Singh, R., Yousefzai, S., Shahid, I., Nasir, K., & Javed, Z. (2025). Understanding the bidirectional association between obesity and risk of psychological distress and depression in young adults in the US: available evidence, knowledge gaps, and future directions. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1422877

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