The association between healthy diet and burnout symptoms among Finnish municipal employees

The negative influence of feeling burnt out on mental state, health, and work goes without saying. In this study by Penttinen et al. (2021), the authors investigated the links between dietary habits and symptoms of burnout using data from a 2015 cross-sectional study conducted on a population of 630 female employees. The participants’ symptoms of burnout were evaluated using the Bergen Burnout Indicator (BBI) and their dietary habits via the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), which were further categorized into healthy and unhealthy categories using the Nordic Nutrition Recommendation standards. The results revealed significant reductions in symptoms of burnout with dietary intake of healthy food (especially low fat dairy products, vegetables, fruits, berries, and white meat) irrespective of age, education, physical activity or symptoms of depression. In conclusion, the authors demonstrate a reduction of burnout symptoms with dietary intake of healthy foods, and highlight the role of dietary balance and diversity in enhancing well-being while at work. [NPID: Burnout, mental health, nutrition]

Year: 2021

Reference: Penttinen, M. A., Virtanen, J., Laaksonen, M., Erkkola, M., Vepsäläinen, H., Kautiainen, H., & Korhonen, P. (2021). The Association between Healthy Diet and Burnout Symptoms among Finnish Municipal Employees. Nutrients, 13(7), 2393. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13072393