A new study suggests that yo-yo dieting—a pattern where people repeatedly lose weight by cutting calories and then regain it—may increase the risk of depression.
Researchers found that people who restrict calories using such diets report more symptoms of depression. These symptoms include low mood, low energy, and sleep problems. This was in comparison to those who are not on any diet.
The study also showed that overweight individuals following low-calorie diets had higher depression scores. Men and overweight people experienced stronger effects on mood from calorie restriction.
These findings differ from earlier reports that suggested low-calorie diets improve depression symptoms. Researchers said previous studies often involved carefully planned and balanced diets. These might not reflect the diets people follow in real life.
The team pointed out that focusing only on “ideal” diets can ignore the variety of eating habits people actually have.
The study was published in BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health. It used data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), involving 28,525 participants. All had completed questionnaires about depressive symptoms, which were scored based on severity.
About 8% of participants reported symptoms of depression. Meanwhile, 33% were overweight and 38% were obese.
Most participants (87%) said they were not on a specific diet. Around 7.7% were cutting calories, 3% followed nutrient-restrictive diets low in fat, sugar, salt, fiber, or carbohydrates, and 2.2% were on diets designed for medical conditions like diabetes.
Researchers noted that low-calorie diets were more common among overweight and obese individuals.
They explained that many studies focus on “healthy” versus “unhealthy” diets. Healthy diets usually include minimally processed foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, lean proteins, and fish. These diets are linked to a lower risk of depression.
On the other hand, unhealthy diets high in ultra-processed foods, refined carbs, saturated fats, processed meats, and sweets are linked to a higher risk of depressive symptoms.
The researchers warned that real-world eating habits are complex and that simply categorizing diets as healthy or unhealthy does not capture this complexity.
They also suggested that calorie restriction can cause deficiencies in important nutrients such as protein, vitamins, and minerals. These deficiencies may put stress on the body and worsen symptoms of depression.
The study’s authors noted some limitations but said their findings highlight the need to consider the risk of depression when recommending diets, especially for men and obese patients.
Professor Sumantra Ray, chief scientist at the NNEdPro Global Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health, commented:
“This study adds to growing evidence linking diet and mental health. It raises questions about whether restrictive diets low in nutrients beneficial for brain health, like omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin B12, might trigger depressive symptoms.”
He added that the effects found in the study were small and more research is needed.
“Further well-designed studies are necessary to better understand how diet impacts mental health, while reducing the influence of chance and other factors,” Professor Ray said.
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