A survey by the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV) showed that ultra-processed foods are associated with depressive disorder
Researchers at the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), in Minas Gerais, concluded that excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods can increase a person’s chances of developing depression.
The study is expected to be published in the Journal of Affective Disorders on May 1. During the work, the researchers interviewed 2,572 Brazilian undergraduate and graduate students about their eating habits and lifestyle.
Study participants had to answer questionnaires every two years, between 2016 and 2020. The questions concerned the frequency and amount of consumption of 144 foods, including ultra-processed and natural options.
They were also asked about their body mass index (BMI), whether they had diabetes, and whether they had ever been diagnosed with depression. They also had to answer about lifestyle habits, such as whether they smoked or drank alcohol and how many hours a day they watched TV.
Results
At the start of the study, according to the researchers, the prevalence of depression in Brazil was 12.8%. The rate is relatively high compared to the world level, with an incidence of the disease in 5% of the population, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Scientists observed that volunteers with worse diets (31% of their daily diet consisted of ultra-processed foods) were 82% more likely to suffer from depression than participants who had 16% of their daily diet composed of these foods. In all, 246 students were diagnosed with depression.
The depressed group was also more likely to be overweight, live alone, watch more TV and consume fewer vitamins. However, the study relied on information provided by participants, which means the data may be inaccurate. Therefore, the researchers argue that further investigations should be conducted to better understand this relationship.
“Higher consumption of ultra-processed foods is a risk factor for the incidence of depression in high-educated Brazilian adults, related to higher consumption of chocolates/cookies, soft drinks, sliced white bread, hot dogs/hamburgers and margarine. importance of public policies and health education strategies to reduce the consumption of these foods, with a consequent reduction in the rates of depression”, underline the scientists.
More studies on ultra-processed foods
Previously, other studies have already pointed to the problems that ultra-processed products lead to health. A study published in the scientific journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, for example, has shown that maintaining a diet with a high concentration of this type of food for just one month can cause damage such as memory loss.
Another study, this time from Imperial College London, UK, concluded that ultra-processed foods, ready meals and white bread, for example, can increase the risk of developing cancer by up to 30%.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
