Depressive syndromes in grossly obese women

Seventy-three consecutive female candidates for intestinal bypass surgery because of gross obesity, were evaluated for the presence or history of affective disorder. Fourteen patients gave a history of depressive disorder fulfilling Feighner et al. (1) criteria, giving treated expectancy (age 15-60) of about 28%, much higher than that found in the general population. A second syndrome of depressed moods of short duration, carbohydrate craving and weight gain was found in fifty-seven (78%) of the patients. This syndrome is similar to the carbohydrate craving and weight gain found in patients suffering from depressed mood and premenstrual fluid retention.