Diet quality and mental health amongst acute inpatient psychiatric patients

Gill et al. (2021) conducted the first study to investigate self-reported dietary habits of acute psychiatric inpatients. The researchers took the participants’ diet history and compared their food habits to a Mediterranean dietary index. Related variables, such as socio-economic characteristics, physical activity, income, BMI, and educational achievement, were taken into consideration in order to better understand the relationships between these factors and the subjects’ diet and mental well-being. Results showed that the majority (75%) of the psychiatric inpatients had an unhealthy diet, and that patients with schizophrenia consumed greater quantities of sugar. Unhealthy diets correlated with higher body mass index (BMI) and lower education level. In conclusion, enhancing dietary habits (e.g. following a Mediterranean diet) may help short-stay inpatients recover from their symptoms more quickly. [NPID: psychiatric disorders, Mediterranean diet, well-being, schizophrenia, sugar]

Year: 2021

Reference: Gill R, Tyndall S F, Vora D, et al. (January 02, 2021) Diet Quality and Mental Health Amongst Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Patients. Cureus 13(1): e12434. doi:10.7759/cureus.12434

Related Studies

Is a vegetarian diet beneficial for bipolar disorder? Relationship between dietary patterns, exercise and pharmacological treatments with metabolic syndrome and course of disease in bipolar disorder

The impact of lifestyle factors on bipolar disorder (BD) is becoming a growing area of research, particularly regarding how these factors might influence the progression of the illness and overall physical health. This study by Gomes‐da‐Costa et al. (2024) aimed to examine the relationships between diet, exercise, medication, and their combined effects on the disease’s […]

Examining nutrition knowledge, skills, and eating behaviors in people with severe mental illness: A cross-sectional comparison among psychiatric inpatients, outpatients, and healthy adults

Individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) are at a higher risk for weight gain and metabolic syndrome, as well as malnutrition, partly due to unhealthy lifestyle choices. In this cross-sectional study by Mötteli et al., participants with severe mental illness were asked to rate their knowledge and proficiency in nutrition as well as any obstacles […]