Low calories diets linked to an increase in depressive symptoms, discovers the study

Embarking in a low -calorie diet could potentially lead to negative mental health, revealed Toronto researchers in Canada.

A new study, published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention and Health, has studied how the adoption of restrictive regimes could cause depressive symptoms.

Using the national survey on health and nutrition exams, researchers have analyzed nearly 29,000 adults who reported their eating habits and also fulfilled a mental health questionnaire.

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Almost 8% of these adults reported depressed symptoms.

Compared to those who have not followed a specific diet, those who have stuck to a caloric-restaurant diet – including overweight people – saw an increase in the severity of depressive symptoms, the study revealed.

A new study has revealed that caloric-restrictive diet can cause depressive symptoms. (istock)

People who have followed a limited nutrient diet experienced a greater increase in symptoms, while men who followed any diet would have shown “higher somatic symptom scores” compared to non-regimes.

Researchers have concluded that there are “potential implications of diets widely followed on depressive symptoms, and a need for tailor -made food recommendations based on BRI and Sex”.

Potential limitations

Judith S. Beck, PHD, president of the Beck Institute for Cognitive Capture Therapy in Pennsylvania, reacted to these results in an interview with Fox News Digital.

The expert, who was not involved in research, noted that he only showed an association between low -calories and depression diets.

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“This is an important distinction, (because) correlation does not equivalent to causality, and having some depressive symptoms does not mean that you have the condition of depression,” she said.

Beck noted that depression and negative emotions can also be caused by multiple cognitive, emotional or behavioral factors which are “more directly associated with depressive symptoms”.

Men have shown higher scores for the depressive symptoms that women revealed the study. (istock)

Promote healthy habits

The Robin Decicco certified holistic nutritionist in New York said most Americans would benefit from weight loss because 70% of Americans are overweight or obese, according to centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

This can be done by reducing the supply of sugary drinks and processed foods, and learning to incorporate more whole foods such as lean proteins, vegetables, fruits and nuts, recommended Decicco, which was not involved in the study either.

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The nutritionist also warned against the rest of fashionable diets.

“It is not durable or healthy to follow these trends because, more often than not, they do not educate the public on the type of nutrients you need to function mentally and physically, which is why it does not surprise me that people can feel depressed and cognitive-affective symptoms during weight loss.”

Cut certain foods rich in fat such as avocado and olive oil also eliminates nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, a nutritionist. (istock)

The quality of the calories “counts considerably”, noted Decicco.

“Although weight loss concerns calories and calories, it is also the type of calories and what we need fuel, disease protection and mental and physical satisfaction,” she said.

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“Food has the power to help us or harm us, and if we do not eat certain foods known to promote mental well-being, we certainly suffer from cognitive disorders and unstable mood.”

For example, cutting fats because they are rich in calories – like salmon, avocado, olive oil and nuts – Also cuts nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, which can reduce inflammation, prevent diseases and improve cognition, mood and health of the brain, noted Decicco.

“Food has the power to help us or harm us, and if we do not eat certain foods known to promote mental well-being, we certainly suffer from cognitive disorders and unstable mood.” (istock)

“If someone wants to lose weight but also has a history of cognitive decline health or is diagnosed with depression, it is even more important to underline the food groups mentioned above,” added Decicco.

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Beck echoes the importance of eating “very healthy”, while recommending that people are considering cognitive-behavioral therapy (TCC).

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“TCC helps people learn cognitive (thoughts) and behavioral skills they need to eat as healthy as possible, given their situation, and change their thoughts so that they can make long-term changes in their food and improve their overall health,” she said.

Fox News Digital contacted study researchers to comment.