This Diet Can Impact Mental Health

A recent study in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health suggests a link between physical and cognitive symptoms of depression and a low-calorie diet, for men and people with high BMI. Should these findings influence dietary choices?

1. Purpose of the Study

   Researchers wanted to observe the understudied mental health effects of restrictive diets, specifically whether some people are prone to negative changes in their emotional or mental state.

2. Study Methods

   The study surveyed 28,525 adult men and women who took the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2007 and 2018, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), which scores depression severity.

3. What Were the Findings?

   The PHQ-9 results showed 2508 self-reported symptoms of depression. There was a 0.29 point increase for people following a low-calorie diet compared to those not following any specific diet.

4. Further Analysis

   A breakdown of the results showed a score increase of 0.46 for overweight people on a low-calorie diet, and an average 0.50 increase for men.

5. The Big Picture

   A low-calorie diet doesn’t always mean a healthy diet. Focusing on calories alone could omit nutrients that contribute to proper brain function, particularly for men, whose nutritional needs are greater. The study’s researchers recognize that further studies between diets and mental health are needed.

Bottom line: A low-calorie diet can contribute to depressive symptoms. Monitoring patients’ diet plans and emotional state can help ensure they are getting the proper nutrients for optimal health.