WHAT ARE THE ODDS of dying from smoking? SHOULD OBESITY AND DEPRESSION BE TREATED TOGETHER? There's an undeniable link between obesity and depression: People who have obesity are more likely to be depressed, and people who are depressed are more likely to gain weight-a difficult cycle to interrupt. Now a study published in JAMA suggests there might be benefits to treating these conditions together. The study recruited more than 400 people dealing with obesity and depression and divided them into two groups. One group participated in a behavioral weight-loss program and received therapy for depression at the same time. Antidepressants were prescribed as needed. The other group continued being treated by their regular doctor. The people who simultaneously participated in the weight-loss program and therapy saw better results in weight loss and depression symptoms as compared with the control group. The results were modest but underscore the importance of using holistic treatments for co-existing health conditions. 1 in 5 Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the U.S., causing nearly 20 percent of deaths each year. Smoking has been shown to shorten a person's life span by an average of 10 years. Mortality rates in smokers are three times higher than in people who have never smoked, and lung cancer isn't the only concern. Smokers also are more likely than nonsmokers to have heart disease, respiratory disease and other types of cancer. The good news is that quitting before age 40 can reduce your risk of smoking-related death by 90 percent. JARGON WATCH DIURETICS are a class of prescription drug that increases urine production and elimination. They're most often used to treat high blood pressure by removing excess water and sodium from the blood, thereby reducing pressure on the blood vessels-but you will have to visit the bathroom more. Source: CDC WIN TE R 2019 37