Following a low-calorie diet increases the likelihood of depression symptoms. This is the conclusion reached by scientists from the University of Toronto. The results of the study are published in the journal BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health.
The study was based on data from 28,000 adult volunteers who had previously participated in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The test subjects were divided into groups based on their eating patterns. It turned out that those who followed a diet with strong calorie restriction, more often suffered from psycho-emotional disorders. Men and overweight people were particularly at risk.
Strict diet diets were also associated with increased cognitive-affective manifestations - for example, impaired emotional background and negative thoughts. Restricting certain nutrients (such as fats or carbohydrates) was more likely to be associated with somatic symptoms: anxiety, tension and worry.
According to the scientists, the new findings run counter to earlier research suggesting that a low-calorie diet promotes better mental health. As the authors explain, the earlier findings were based on clinical trials in which participants received a balanced and carefully planned diet under the supervision of specialists. In real life, thinners often face a deficiency of important substances, which can negatively affect their psycho-emotional state.
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