How does obesity affect your mental health?

Sometimes depression: Obesity and depression can be seen together. The person may use food to soothe sadness, and in doing so, gains more and more weight. Then he realizes that he has become obese, and gets depressed because he feels less attractive, is unable to run as fast or jump as high as he used to do, feels helpless as he can't seem to stop eating, etc... When he eats to soothe his depression, the cycle goes on.

Many ways: Obese individuals are more likely to be depressed and stressed. They are more likely to experience physical ailments and pain which also contribute to mental health problems. There is also tremendous amount of stigma in society regarding weight from news media to school yard bullying - this contributes to poorer self image. It is a cycle that feeds itself through emotional overeating.