Poor Diet Increases The Risk Of Mental Disorders

2023 Author: Abraham Higgins | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 23:16

Poor diet increases the risk of mental disorders

Poor mental health is associated with poor nutritional quality, regardless of personal characteristics such as gender, age, education, marital status and income level.

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Poor mental health is associated with poor nutritional quality, regardless of personal characteristics such as gender, age, education, marital status and income level.

According to a study by Loma Linda University published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, Californian adults who ate more unhealthy foods were more likely to report symptoms of either moderate or severe psychological distress than their healthy eating peers.

The research team looked at data from telephone surveys (total of 245,891 people) conducted between 2005 and 2015 as part of the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). They had a wealth of information on socio-demographic data, health status and health behavior.

The study found that nearly 17% of adults in California suffer from mental illness, of which 13.2% have moderate, 3.7% have severe mental illness.

The findings were similar to previous studies of the link between mental illness and unhealthy diets in other countries. For example, high sugar consumption has been found to be associated with bipolar disorder, and processed foods have been found to be associated with depression.

“This and other research like it could be of great value for treatment in behavioral medicine. It may be time for us to take a closer look at the role of diet in mental health, because maybe choosing a healthy diet contributes to mental health. More research is needed before we can come up with a definitive answer, but the evidence seems to point that direction,”said study lead author Jim E. Banta, associate professor at Loma University School of Public Health. Linda (Loma Linda University School of Public Health).

The researchers warned that the link between poor diet and mental illness is not causal. However, the findings are based on previous research and may influence future research and the approach that healthcare providers use to treat behavioral disorders.

The scientists pointed out that their team's findings provide "additional evidence that public policy and clinical practice should be more focused on improving the quality of nutrition among those fighting for mental health." In addition, “dietary interventions for people with mental illness should be primarily targeted at young people, people with an educational level of less than 12 years of age and those who are obese”.