Low-calorie diets linked to surprising mental health effect, new research shows
Embarking on a low-calorie diet could potentially lead to negative mental health, researchers in Toronto, Canada, have revealed.
A new study, published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention and Health, investigated how the adoption of restrictive diets could instigate depressive symptoms.
Using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, researchers analyzed nearly 29,000 adults who reported their dietary habits and also completed a mental health questionnaire.
Rates Of Dementia Are Lower In People Who Eat This Specific Diet, Research Shows
Nearly 8% of these adults reported depressive symptoms.
Compared to those who did not follow a specific diet, those who stuck to a calorie-restrictive diet — including overweight individuals — saw an increase in depressive symptom severity, the study found.
Read On The Fox News App
People who followed a nutrient-restricted diet saw a larger increase in symptoms, while men who followed any diet reportedly showed "higher somatic symptom scores" compared to non-dieters.
The researchers concluded that there are "potential implications of widely followed diets on depressive symptoms, and a need for tailored dietary recommendations based on BMI and sex."
Judith S. Beck, PhD, president of the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy in Pennsylvania, reacted to these findings in an interview with Fox News Digital.
The expert, who was not involved in the research, noted that it only showed an association between low-calorie diets and depression.
10 Best Diets Of 2025 As Chosen By Nutrition Experts
"This is an important distinction, [because] correlation does not equal causation, and having a few depressive symptoms does not mean you have the condition of depression," she said.
Beck noted that depression and negative emotions can also be caused by multiple cognitive, emotional or behavioral factors that are "more directly associated with depressive symptoms."
Certified holistic nutritionist Robin DeCicco in New York City commented that most Americans would benefit from losing weight, as 70% of Americans are overweight or obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
This can be done by reducing the intake of sugary drinks and processed foods, and learning how to incorporate more whole foods like lean protein, vegetables, fruits and nuts, recommended DeCicco, who also was not involved in the study.
This Weight Loss Plan Performs Better Than Traditional Dieting, Study Finds
The nutritionist also warned against following fad diets.
"It's not sustainable or healthy to follow these trends because, most often, they are not educating the public on the type of nutrients you need to function mentally and physically, which is why it doesn't surprise me that people can experience depressive and cognitive-affective symptoms when losing weight."
The quality of calories "matters dramatically," DeCicco noted.
"While weight loss is about calories in and calories out, it's also about the type of calories and what we need for fuel, protection against disease, and mental and physical satisfaction," she said.
"Food has the power to help us or harm us, and if we're not eating certain foods known to promote mental well-being, we will definitely suffer from cognitive impairment and unstable mood."
As an example, cutting out fats because they're high in calories — like salmon, avocado, olive oil and nuts — also cuts out nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, which can reduce inflammation, prevent disease and improve cognition, mood and brain health, DeCicco noted.
"If someone wants to lose weight but also has a health history of cognitive decline or is diagnosed with depression, it is even more important to emphasize the food groups mentioned above," DeCicco added.
Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter
Beck echoed the importance of eating in a "very healthy way," while also recommending that people consider cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
For more Health articles, visit foxnews.com/health
"CBT helps people learn the cognitive (thinking) and behavioral skills they need to eat as healthily as possible given their circumstances, and to change their thinking so they can make long-term changes in their eating and improve their overall health," she said.
Fox News Digital reached out to the study researchers for comment.Original article source: Low-calorie diets linked to surprising mental health effect, new research shows
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
6 simple ways to protect your hearing now before it's too late, according to experts
Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions affecting older adults, with about one in three Americans between 65 and 74 affected, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). While some of this loss is due to the hair cells in the inner ears breaking down with age and not picking up vibrations as well, per WebMD, there are some risk factors that can be controlled with behavior modifications. Making small changes now can help protect your ears and hearing later in life, experts advise. Below are some practical tips you can start implementing today. Common Aging Symptom Could Worsen Loneliness In Seniors Whether it's a crowded concert, heavy traffic or the constant hum of power tools, repeated exposure to high noise levels is known to cause permanent damage to the delicate structures in the inner ear. One of the most effective ways to protect your hearing as you age is to limit your exposure to these loud environments, the NIH states. Read On The Fox News App Even small adjustments, like lowering the volume on your headphones or taking quiet breaks during a noisy event, can make a big difference over time. Damage to the inner ear can happen long before it shows up on a hearing test, according to the NIH, which means prevention is key. When loud situations are unavoidable, and you expect to be exposed for more than a few minutes, experts recommend wearing ear protection, such as foam earplugs or noise-canceling earmuffs. Foam earplugs are an affordable, easy-to-carry option that reduce noise by 15 to 30 decibels, WebMD states. Earmuffs, which cover the entire ear, offer similar protection and can be worn with earplugs for added defense. Some earplugs are designed to reduce sound evenly across all frequencies, making them ideal for musicians or anyone who wants clear but quieter audio. Just like dental cleanings or eye exams, regular hearing checkups are an important part of maintaining overall health. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that adults aged 50 through 64 should have their hearing screened by an audiologist every five years. Hearing exams are particularly important for those who have a family history of hearing loss, notice difficulty hearing conversations, have a high degree of noise exposure, often hear ringing in the ears or have no previous testing history. Your healthcare provider will assess how well your hearing is functioning and check for any early signs of hearing loss. Women May Hear Better Than Men, New Study Suggests "Screening doesn't always mean undergoing a full hearing test," Lindsay Creed, a Maryland audiologist and associate director of audiology practices at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), told Fox News Digital. "It can start with a few simple questions from your doctor during a routine physical, or even a short questionnaire as a first step." Smoking doesn't just affect your lungs and heart — it can also harm your hearing. According to a study conducted by the NIH, current smokers are 61% more likely to experience prevalent hearing loss compared to non-smokers. 'I'm A Neurologist — Here's Why Dementia Is Rising And How To Reduce Your Risk' The good news? Quitting makes a difference. Former smokers who quit for longer than five years reduced their risk to nearly as low as individuals who have never smoked, the same study found. Although hearing loss is common with age, it's not the only auditory issue. According to the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons), conditions like tinnitus, which often peaks between age 60 and 69, can also develop. Tinnitus causes persistent sounds such as ringing, hissing, buzzing or whooshing in the ears. Most cases are linked to sensorineural hearing loss, the type that typically occurs with age, the American Tinnitus Association notes. While there's no cure, various treatments can help reduce the impact of symptoms. Another condition that becomes more common with age is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), which causes brief but intense episodes of dizziness, according to Mayo Clinic. This occurs when tiny calcium crystals in the inner ear shift out of place. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter Audiologist Lindsay Creed noted that head trauma is usually the cause in younger people, but in those over 50, natural age-related changes in the inner ear are more likely the culprit. Once someone experiences BPPV, future episodes become more likely. The condition can often be treated with a simple in-office maneuver performed by a medical professional to reposition the crystals, although Creed advises against attempting it at home without guidance. Many drugs are known to cause impaired hearing, including some cancer medications and antibiotics, according to WebMD. For more Health articles, visit If you take a prescription medication, experts recommend checking with your physician to ensure that it isn't known to impact ear article source: 6 simple ways to protect your hearing now before it's too late, according to experts
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
The Bulletin June 12, 2025
The rundown: With labor market uncertainty, jobs rewarding employees for "going the extra mile" and competing responsibilities inside and outside the workplace, a growing number of Americans are suffering from what experts refer to as "time poverty." Learn more about what it means. Why it matters: The term has been increasingly adopted by psychologists to denote the chronic imbalance between the time a person needs and that which their work life allows them. A new survey by wellness firm Wondr Health revealed the extent of the issue, finding that the majority (62 percent) of U.S. workers do not take their allotted time off because of the internalized pressures of work and let about one-third of their annual vacation days go unspent. Read more in-depth coverage: Trump-Era Economic Shifts Driving Up U.S. Worker Stress Levels TL/DR: "No one is harder on most of us than ourselves and it leads to time poverty, a condition where we simply do not have enough time for a meaningful work-life balance," said Dr. Tim Church, chief medical officer at Wondr Health. What happens now? Experts pointed to the need for allotted "mental health days," as well as the willingness of businesses to invest in employee wellness programs and foster open communication with their workforces. Deeper reading Americans Are Suffering From 'Time Poverty'
The Hill
2 hours ago
- The Hill
Prediabetes interventions at forefront of treatment: What to know
The conversation around prediabetes has entered a new day for Americans. Earlier this week, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine published the first clinical practice guideline to prioritize lifestyle interventions in treating Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. The guideline offers a comprehensive roadmap for clinicians to effectively incorporate therapeutic lifestyle behavior interventions as a mainstay of treatment, while also complementing existing guidelines for diabetes, many of which mention lifestyle as part of care but often do not provide specifics. So, what is prediabetes? What are the symptoms? What could be the short-term and long-term complications of having prediabetes? Prediabetes is a warning of Type 2 diabetes. It develops when a person's blood sugar levels are elevated but not enough to be fully diagnosed. Type 2 diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, people who are 45 years old with prediabetes have a 10-year risk of developing Type 2 diabetes ranging from 9-14 percent. Researchers estimate that 84 million adults in the U.S. have prediabetes. More than 80 percent of people with prediabetes don't know they have it. Most people with prediabetes don't have any symptoms, but darkened skin, skin tags, and changes in the eyes could be indicators of a person being prediabetic. The main cause of prediabetes results from a person being insulin resistant. Insulin resistance happens when cells in your muscles, fat and liver don't respond regularly to insulin. Insulin is a hormone your pancreas makes that regulates blood sugar levels. Genetics, excess body fat, visceral fat, physical inactivity and persistently eating highly processed, high-carbohydrate foods and saturated fats can all contribute to a person becoming insulin resistant. Becoming prediabetic can be problematic for a person, with the main complication of it developing into Type 2 diabetes. Other issues can arise, such as heart attacks, strokes, eye problems, kidney issues and nerve damage. Reversing prediabetes can be done, but it's typically not possible to reverse diabetes complications.
