People with anxiety or depression are more likely to be obese as well as to smoke and drink heavily, according to a new study published in General Hospital Psychiatry.

Researchers collected data from over 200,000 adults across the United States via the 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a telephone survey. Of the participants, 8.7% had depression currently, 15.7% had depression at one time, and 11.3% had an anxiety disorder at some time.

People with depression currently or previously were 60% more likely to be obese and twice as likely to smoke than people without depression. Those who had experienced an anxiety disorder were 30% more likely to be obese and twice as likely to smoke. Participants with either depression or anxiety (past or current) also were more likely to binge drink and to be inactive.

The authors point out that depression and anxiety might lead to these behaviors, but these behaviors also might lead to the depression and anxiety. For example, societal attitudes toward obesity might lead to depression in an obese person. On the other hand, depression itself may lead to overeating and weight gain in some people.

If you have an anxiety or depressive disorder, it's important that you are in treatment for your condition. If you have problems with smoking, drinking, or overeating, you will want to get help for these issues as well. Sometimes treating the depression and anxiety will help other issues as well, but often you will need to work on more than one problem at a time. Be sure to discuss your concerns with your therapist and other health care providers.

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