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Representation of diet and mental health evidence in national dietary guidelines and large-scale public health nutrition programmes
Despite the significant role that common mental health disorders play in contributing to global disability, nutrition policy rarely prioritizes improvements in mental health outcomes. Recent studies suggest a connection between food insecurity, diet quality, ultra-processed foods, and the microbiota-gut-brain axis, emphasizing the potential influence of diet on mental health. This research investigates how effectively national dietary guidelines and large nutrition programs reflect this critical relationship.
The study employed established document analysis methods based on Population-Concept-Context criteria, as outlined by Arksey and O’Malley and the Joanna Briggs Institute, along with PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews. It involved a systematic examination of selected national food-based dietary guidelines and policy documents, spanning from 2000 to March 2026, sourced from platforms like the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and UNICEF. Although the geographic scope was diverse, the sample did not encompass all national dietary guidelines.
A total of 19 documents were identified, including 9 national guidelines, 1 global review of food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG), and 9 additional program or policy documents. Notably, the analysis revealed that the majority of these documents either lacked specific references to mental health outcomes or used vague terminology regarding overall well-being. Only the U.S. National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health and the Rural Health Produce Prescription Toolkit explicitly linked food insecurity with issues such as anxiety, depression, and toxic stress, demonstrating the potential for incorporating mental health considerations into nutrition policy.
In conclusion, there is a significant absence of scientific evidence regarding the diet-mental health connection within existing nutrition guidelines. To enhance future outcomes, it is essential that upcoming revisions to these guidelines and programs include mental health indicators and focus on shared outcomes across various economic contexts. [NPID: Food-based dietary guidelines, nutrition policy, mental health, nutrition policy]
Year: 2026
