Association between dietary diversity, sedentary time outside of work and depressive symptoms among knowledge workers: a multi-center cross-sectional study

Nowadays, sedentary lifestyles and low-variety diets are known risk factors for depressive symptoms. However, the experience of knowledge workers (those whose tasks involve crafting or transforming ideas into original products) was previously disregarded. The current study by Li et al. (2024) looked at the connection between knowledge workers’ depressed symptoms, the variety of their diets, and the amount of time they spend being sedentary outside of work. 118,723 knowledge workers from multiple centers were included in this cross-sectional study. Online self-reporting was done by participants between January 2018 and December 2020. The following factors were examined: dietary habits (midnight snacking, eating three meals on time, overeating, social engagement, consumption of coffee, sugary drinks, alcohol, and smoking), physical activity levels, and sedentary time outside of work. In addition to the Dietary Diversity Scale and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, participants also reported relevant demographic data. Estimates were made of the connections between depressed symptoms, dietary practices and diversity, and demographic data, and participants were classified into levels under these variables. Analysis of the results demonstrated that participants in the third level of dietary diversity had a lower likelihood of depression symptoms as compared to the first and second levels. Moreover, knowledge workers showed an increasing incidence of depression symptoms with increasing levels of sedentary behavior. The authors conclude that low levels of food diversification and extended periods of inactivity after work are risk factors for depressive symptoms. In addition, the authors highlight that overeating and having an inconsistent diet are significant risk risks for knowledge workers. [NPID: Knowledge workers, depression, dietary diversity, sedentary lifestyle]

Year: 2024

Reference: Li, L., Yang, P., Duan, Y., Xie, J., Liu, M., Zhou, Y., Luo, X., Zhang, C., Li, Y., Wang, J., Chen, Z., Zhang, X., & Cheng, A. S. K. (2024). Association between dietary diversity, sedentary time outside of work and depressive symptoms among knowledge workers: a multi-center cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 24(1), 53. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-17567-7

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