Weight Loss and Depression

“I am worried that my 16-year-old daughter might be suffering from depression. She has lost a lot of weight in the past few months. I am very concerned about her and want to get her the best treatment. Even her teacher has commented on her listlessness in class and her weight loss. What should I do?”

This is an excellent question. The incidence of depression among teenage girls is presently at an all- time high. There also is an increasing incidence of weight loss associated both with depression, body image, anorexia, and bulimia. With the tumultuous mood swings and dangerous behavior of “normal” adolescents as well as the stress in teenage daily living, you are right to be concerned.

Does your daughter go to bed late and get up for school tired and drowsy? It has been well documented that teens need their sleep and often do not get enough. This alone can look like depression. Does she seem to be a worrier? This can be another sign of teenage depression. To a large degree, teens are also strongly influenced by peers. If peers stress a perfect figure, or are involved in drug use and abuse, including alcohol, these are “red flags” regarding potential reasons for some of your daughter’s behavior.

Adolescents can be very resistant to treatment. Her teacher has already voiced concern. You might also check with her school counselor about any unusual behavior. I suggest that you insist that your daughter see her primary care physician for an examination and evaluation. The physician will make an initial diagnosis. On the basis of that medical diagnosis, the physician can recommend a specialist, usually a psychiatrist, who would do a more extensive evaluation. Hopefully, your daughter is only suffering the normal pangs of being a teenager. However, by getting her to her primary care physician, I believe that you will be advocating early intervention and doing what is in the very best interests of both you and your daughter.

Dr. Manuel S. Silverman, PhD