Hi Jimmymac,
You're absolutely right that there can be an effect. Chances are that
a poor diet and erratic sleep aren't the sole cause of a teen's
depression, but they can be a factor. (It is much, much more likely
that a bad diet and poor sleep are SYMPTOMS of depression rather than
a cause.) There can also be a synergistic effect -- among the symptoms
of depression can be a change in eating patterns and difficulty
sleeping, and these in turn can make it more difficult for the person
to use coping skills to get out of the depression. It is also
possible for other factors (for example, relationship or family
difficulties) to cause eating and sleeping problems as well as
depression. Heredity and body chemistry also can play a role.
In other words, it usually isn't easy to determine a simple
cause-and-effect relationship. If mood disorders (among them
depression and anxiety), poor eating and/or poor sleep are a serious
problem, one should consult with a professional. If need be, most
medical doctors can provide referrals to mental health professionals.
If any of these symptoms or problems are making life unmanageable,
please make sure to seek out the assistance of someone who can provide
individual attention and a diagnosis.
I've collected several web sites and pages that can provide you
additional information. A few of them apply to teens specifically,
but others provide more general information that applies to teens as
well as adults. Here they are:
Teen Depression
This site provides a wealth of information about prevention, detection
and treatment of depression in teenagers.
http://www.teen-depression.info/
Teen Depression: Warning Signs, Information, Getting Help
This site features a long list of links, organizations and other
resources than can help people dealing with depression in teens.
http://www.focusas.com/Depression.html
Depression in Teenagers
"When you're depressed ...
"Your sleep pattern changes; you start sleeping a lot more or you have
trouble falling asleep at night. Or you wake up really early most
mornings and can't get back to sleep.
"Your eating habits change; you've lost your appetite or you eat a lot
more."
http://www.psychologyinfo.com/depression/teens.htm
Child's Depression May Lead to Obesity: Study
"Depressed children are at twice the risk of becoming obese compared
to their peers who are not depressed, new study findings suggest.
"The findings could provide a new avenue for treating obesity, and
also underscore the importance of diagnosing and treating depression
in children, explained Dr. Elizabeth Goodman of Brandeis University in
an interview."
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_9227.html
Depression (National Institute of Mental Health)
This page provides an overview of depression, its causes and
treatments.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/depression.cfm
When Your Child Is Depressed
"Although your child's condition may seem unshakable right now, her
depression is a treatable illness with definite symptoms and effective
treatments. Here's the good news: you can help your child by getting
her the help she needs."
http://kidshealth.com/parent/emotions/feelings/when_child_depressed.html
Depression and Diet
"Depression is not caused by a poor diet, but a link between food and
mood can exist. Sometimes the question is: 'Which came first? The
chicken (depression) or the egg (poor diet)?'"
http://www.eat-online.net/english/education/depression_and_diet/depression_and_diet.htm
Diet and Depression: Is There a Link? Can it Hurt to Try?
"Just as there are a plethora of conditions which can generally be
referred to as depression of one kind or another, there are a myriad
of factors which cause or contribute to such depression."
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/biology/b103/f01/web2/fallon.html
I hope you find these resources useful. Again, depression and other
mood problems can have a variety of causes, not just diet and sleep.
If there is a serious problem, a professional should be contacted as
soon as possible.
Best wishes,
mvguy
Google search terms used: teens, teenagers, depression, diet, sleep
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