The Crucial Intersection: Understanding Obesity, Mental Health, and Weight Stigma in Mental Health Care

The link between obesity and mental health is complex and often overlooked (Sharma, 2012). Although, there are many gaps in the literature, there is an understanding that a bi-directional relationship between obesity and mental health exists (Taylor et al., 2020). On the one hand, some individuals with obesity present with a wide range of mental health conditions, which can promote weight gain and act as significant barriers to obesity treatment (Taylor et al., 2012). On the other hand, studies indicate that some patients with mental illness have higher rates of obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes than the general population (Taylor et al., 2008).