Study: Overweight causes depression, the most affected of women

Being overweight can cause depression, researchers say, with the effects thought to be largely psychological. While previous studies have concluded that people who are obese are more prone to depression, it has not been clear whether depression caused by weight changes or the opposite.

Now, in greater study of this type, experts say that having overweight - related genetic variants can lead to depression, with stronger consequences in women than in men.

Furthermore, the study suggests that the effects can result from such factors as image. People who are overweight are more depressed, and this may be at least partly a side effect of the weight.

Researchers from Great Britain and Australia have used data from British biological banks, a search in which 500 thousand participants aged 37 to 73 in 2006-2010 are included.