Type 4: SAD or Emotional Overeaters Plan

Overview: People with this type often eat to medicate underlying feelings of boredom, loneliness, or depression. Their symptoms can range from winter blues, mild chronic sadness (termed dysthymia) to more serious depressions. Other symptoms may include a loss of interest in usually pleasurable activities; decreased libido; periods of crying; feelings of guilt, helplessness, hopelessness, or worthlessness; sleep and appetite changes; low energy levels; suicidal thoughts; and low self-esteem.

When this type occurs in the winter, it is usually in more northern climates, where there is often a deficiency in sunlight and vitamin D levels. Low vitamin D levels have been associated with depression, memory problems, obesity, heart disease, and immune suppression. In recent years, there is an increase in vitamin D deficiencies even in southern and western states in the summer. There are two reasons for this: people are wearing sunscreen more than ever, so they are not being exposed to the sun even when they are outside, and they are spending more and more time indoors on their computers or watching TV. Some researchers believe nearly half of the U.S. population suffers from a vitamin D deficiency. I screen all of my patients for it by ordering a 25-hydroxy vitamin D level.

SPECT findings: The SPECT findings that correlate with this type are markedly increased activity in the deep limbic areas of the brain and decreased PFC activity.

What doesn’t work:

Ignoring symptoms of sadness or depression.

What works:

To help SAD or emotional overeaters, check vitamin D levels and correct them when low. Bright light therapy may be helpful to correct vitamin D problems, help with mood states, and help people lose weight

There is evidence that bright light therapy might enhance the effectiveness of physical activity for weight loss. It significantly reduced the binge-eating episodes in people with bulimia and is an effective plan for SAD, and has even been shown to be more effective than Prozac for these patients. Using bright light therapy in the workplace was effective in improving mood, energy, alertness, and productivity

Supplements to try:

SAMe Mood & Movement Support plus Vitamin D supplements if your levels are low. Also, make sure to check your DHEA blood levels. DHEA is a master hormone that has been found to be low in many people with depression and obesity. Supplementing with DHEA has good scientific evidence that it is helpful for weight loss in certain patients.

Behavioral interventions:

The following behavioral changes may boost mood to help SAD or emotional overeaters:

• Exercise to increase blood flow and multiple neurotransmitters in the brain.
• Kill the ANTs (automatic negative thoughts) that steal your happiness.
• Write down five things you are grateful for everyday (this has been shown to increase your level of happiness in just three weeks).
• Volunteer to help others, which helps to get you outside of yourself and less focused on your own internal problems.
• Surround yourself with great smells, such as lavender.
• Try melatonin to help you sleep.
• Work to improve your relationships.