A new study has revealed that restrictive diets, especially those based on calorie reduction or nutrient limitation, may increase the risk of depression.
Published in the BMJ, the research analyzed data from 28,525 adults under the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, where 7.79% reported symptoms of depression.
Results showed that people on calorie-restricted diets had an average increase of 0.29 points in depression scores, while overweight individuals recorded 0.46 points, and those limiting nutrients saw a rise of 0.61 points.
Experts warn that diet can strongly affect mental health and suggest future dietary guidelines should consider both physical and psychological well-being.
