The association between depression and eating styles in four European countries: The MooDFOOD prevention study

Understanding the links between psychological health and dietary habits is crucial for addressing public health concerns. This study investigates how major depressive disorder and its severity correlate with poor eating behaviors in a sizable European cohort.

Utilizing baseline data from the MooDFOOD prevention study, this research analyzed responses from 990 participants across four European nations: The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Spain. Researchers employed Analyses of Covariance and linear regression to examine the impact of depression history and severity on different eating styles, specifically emotional, uncontrolled, and cognitive restrained eating, measured by the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire Revised (18 items).

The findings indicate that individuals with a background of depression, as well as those experiencing more severe depressive symptoms, engaged in greater levels of emotional and uncontrolled eating. Conversely, they exhibited lower levels of cognitive restrained eating. Specific symptom clusters, including mood, somatic, and cognitive symptoms, further reinforced these trends. Notably, the somatic symptoms of increased appetite and weight gain displayed the strongest correlation with unhealthy eating habits compared to other depressive symptoms. Importantly, these associations did not vary significantly across the different European countries included in the study.

In conclusion, the results underscore a significant association between depression and unhealthy eating patterns. Addressing unhealthy eating behaviors in individuals with subthreshold depression may help mitigate negative health outcomes, such as weight gain and related diseases. Furthermore, implementing interventions to reduce depressive symptoms may also lead to improved eating habits. [NPID: Depression, eating behavior, cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating, emotional eating]. [NPID: Emotional eating, depression, eating behavior, uncontrolled eating, weight gain]

Year: 2018

Reference: Paans, N. P. G., Bot, M., Brouwer, I. A., Visser, M., Roca, M., Kohls, E., Watkins, E., & Penninx, B. W. J. H. (2018). The association between depression and eating styles in four European countries: The MooDFOOD prevention study. Journal of psychosomatic research, 108, 85–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2018.03.003

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