Study links body fat distribution to increased risk of anxiety and depression
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A recent study has revealed that not just the amount, but also the location of body fat may significantly influence mental health, particularly the risk of anxiety and depression.
Published in Nature Metabolism, the study found that higher fat percentages in specific regions — such as the legs, gynoid area, and head — were associated with greater symptoms of depression.
The effect was notably stronger in men, as well as individuals classified as underweight or overweight, pointing to the importance of fat distribution rather than overall body weight.
Given the growing rates of anxiety and obesity worldwide, the study’s findings shed new light on the biological links between metabolism and mental health.
"Understanding how adipose tissue connects to anxiety could pave the way for new research and treatment approaches," said Gregory Steinberg, senior author of the study and professor at McMaster University. Steinberg, who also serves as a Canada Research Chair in Metabolism and Obesity, emphasised the intricate relationship between the body's metabolism and psychological well-being.
The research team explained that psychological stress triggers the fight-or-flight response, which activates a process called lipolysis in fat cells. This process releases fats that stimulate the production of a hormone called GDF15 from immune cells within fat tissue. GDF15 then interacts with the brain, promoting feelings of anxiety.
Through a series of carefully controlled experiments in mice, researchers observed anxiety-like behaviors and identified the molecular pathways involved. Their work demonstrated a clear link between changes in fat metabolism and anxiety symptoms.
Logan Townsend, the study's first author and a postdoctoral fellow at McMaster, noted that the research opens promising avenues for new anxiety treatments. "By targeting metabolic processes in fat cells, we might develop innovative therapies that offer more precise relief for anxiety disorders," Townsend explained.
He added that since some pharmaceutical companies are already working on GDF15 blockers for cancer treatment, these drugs could potentially be adapted for anxiety management as well.