Lifestyle

Ultra-Processed Food Increases The Risk Of Depression

The new finding shows that a daily diet that contains more than 30 percent ultra-processed food is connected with an increased risk of depression.

Ultra-processed foods include more than just junk food and fast meals. They also include mass-produced and highly refined products such as diet soft drinks, some fruit juices, flavored yogurts, margarine, packet preparations of foods like scrambled egg and mashed potato, and many ready-to-heat-and-eat dishes.

The latest study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders adds to the growing body of research pointing to the wide-ranging dangers of diets high in inexpensive, well-marketed but often nutrient-deficient convenience food.

Deakin University and Cancer Council Victoria researchers examined the links between ultra-processed food consumption and depression in over 23,000 Australians from the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study.

Melissa Lane conducted the study as part of her Ph.D. studies at Deakin University’s Food and Mood Center.

She said, “While Australians eat a lot of ultra-processed foods, the link with depression has never been assessed in a group of Australians until now”.

In a statement, Lane said, “Australians who ate the most ultra-processed food had about a 23 percent higher risk of depression compared to those who ate the least amount”.

The participants in the study were initially not taking any medication for depression or anxiety and were tracked for more than 15 years.

Even after controlling for characteristics such as smoking and poor education, income, and physical activity, which have been linked to poor health outcomes, the data demonstrate that a higher intake of ultra-processed food is connected with a higher risk of depression.

Lane explained that while the study did not prove that ultra-processed food necessarily caused depression, it showed that eating more ultra-processed food was associated with an increased risk of depression.

Lane further said, “Depression is one of the most common mental disorders across the globe and it is a major health problem because it negatively affects daily living and well-being through lasting low energy, changes in appetite and sleep, loss of interest or pleasure, sadness, and sometimes thoughts of suicide”.

“Identifying a critical level of consumption that may increase the risk of depression will help consumers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers make more informed decisions around dietary choices, interventions, and public health strategies”, Lane added.

Also read: Dr. Manoj Soni Takes Oath As UPSC Chairman

Spriha Rai

Recent Posts

Gautam Adani Hails Puri Lifeguards As Unsung Heroes During Rath Yatra Visit

Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, visited Puri in Odisha during the annual Rath…

4 hours ago

Acharya Pramod Krishnam Slams Congress Over ‘Internal Emergency’ Allegation

Acharya Pramod Krishnam, stirred political debate by claiming an 'internal emergency' still exists within the…

5 hours ago

MRM Meeting: Pledge for Global Peace, Green India, De-addiction & Democratic Integrity

Taking a crucial step toward positive transformation, social reform, and global peace, the Muslim Rashtriya…

5 hours ago

India To Host 2029 World Police & Fire Games; Amit Shah Hails Global Recognition

India has been chosen to host the prestigious 2029 World Police and Fire Games in…

5 hours ago

Seeing The Lord Among Devotees Is The Pinnacle Of Humility: Gautam Adani At Rath Yatra

Gautam Adani, along with his wife and Karan, participated in the Rath Yatra in Puri,…

8 hours ago

PM Modi Interacts With Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla Aboard The ISS

PM Narendra Modi interacted with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to reach the…

9 hours ago