Cited by 1,073Regulation of Appetite and ObesityEating Disorders and BehaviorsAdipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases

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Depression and obesity: evidence of shared biological mechanisms

Open access

Milaneschi, Yuri, Simmons, W. Kyle, van Rossum, Elisabeth F. C., Penninx, Brenda WJH·2019·Molecular Psychiatry

DOI 10.1038/s41380-018-0017-5

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Abstract

Depression and obesity are common conditions with major public health implications that tend to co-occur within individuals. The relationship between these conditions is bidirectional: the presence of one increases the risk for developing the other. It has thus become crucial to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the intertwined downward physiological spirals associated with both conditions. The present review focuses specifically on shared biological pathways that may mechanistically explain the depression-obesity link, including genetics, alterations in systems involved in homeostatic adjustments (HPA axis, immuno-inflammatory activation, neuroendocrine regulators of energy metabolism including leptin and insulin, and microbiome) and brain circuitries integrating homeostatic and mood regulatory responses. Furthermore, the review addresses interventional opportunities and questions to be answered by future research that will enable a comprehensive characterization and targeting of the biological links between depression and obesity.

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Authors: Milaneschi, Y., Simmons, W. K., van Rossum, E. F. C., & Penninx, B. W.
Affiliations: Amsterdam Neuroscience (NL)
Laureate Institute for Brain Research (US)
Corresponding author: Penninx, Brenda WJH
ORCID: Milaneschi, Yuri
Simmons, W. Kyle
Penninx, Brenda WJH
Venue: Molecular Psychiatry
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published: 2018-02-16
Volume: 24
Issue: 1
Pages: 18-33
ISSN: 1359-4184 (ISSN-L)
1476-5578
DOI: 10.1038/s41380-018-0017-5
OpenAlex: W2793219717
Semantic Scholar: 68e357daebf4d3c206fe34e3d98835cf2e71eb1c
Cited by: 1,073
References: 209
Citations by year: 2026: 128 · 2025: 216 · 2024: 180 · 2023: 181 · 2022: 147 · 2021: 108 · 2020: 59 · 2019: 44 · 2018: 9
FWCI: 7.69
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
pure.amsterdamumc.nl
Licence: other-oa
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations: Molecular Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Pure Amsterdam UMC (publishedVersion, other-oa)
EUR Research Repository (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (publishedVersion)
EUR Research Repository (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (submittedVersion)
Amsterdam UMC (VU Amsterdam) - Institutional Repository (submittedVersion)
Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
Funders: Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
Topics: Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
Keywords: depression, obesity, bidirectional comorbidity, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, inflammation, leptin, insulin, gut microbiota, energy metabolism, neuroendocrine regulation, brain circuits, genetic risk factors
MeSH terms: Brain, Depression, Major Depressive Disorder, Depressive Disorder, Energy Metabolism, Female, Homeostasis, Humans, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System, Inflammation, Insulin, Male, Obesity, Pituitary-Adrenal System, Leptin, Melanocortins, Microbiota

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Depression and obesity: evidence of shared biological mechanisms

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