Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and risk of anxiety and depression in people with obesity: a cross-sectional analysis
Depression and anxiety are common mental health conditions, especially among obese people. Previous studies have shown that following the Mediterranean diet can help prevent anxiety and depression in the general population. This study by Menichetti et al. (2024) was to precisely evaluate this link in a sizable sample of obese people. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 4957 patients with obesity (63.1% women, median age 49 years, IQR 40–58 years, and BMI 33.6 kg/m², IQR 31.6–36.9 kg/m²). Clinical histories, anthropometric measurements, and lifestyle-related information were collected. A 14-item MEDAS questionnaire was used to evaluate adherence to the Mediterranean diet, while the 24-item QD questionnaire and the 20-item STAI2 questionnaire evaluated anxiety and depression symptoms. Clinical cases of anxiety and depression were identified in participants with a physician-diagnosed condition or those whose STAI2 and QD scores were ≥95th percentiles of the reference population. Of the individuals, 11% had a diagnosis of depression, and 11.9% had an anxiety diagnosis. Data analysis indicated a decrease of 0.18 points in STAI2 scores and 0.10 points in QD scores for each 1-point increase in MEDAS score. Further analysis showed a 7% reduction in the odds of anxiety and depression for each 1-point increase in the MEDAS score. The authors conclude that individuals with obesity who have adherence to the Mediterranean diet have lower odds of experiencing depression and anxiety. Further longitudinal research is recommended to establish a causal association. [NPID: Mediterranean diet, anxiety, depression, obesity, mental health, dietary adherence]
Year: 2024
