Mediterranean diet helps prevent anxiety, depression in people with obesity

Adherence to the Mediterranean diet results in a reduction in the risks of anxiety and depression among individuals with obesity, a recent study has shown.

Of the 4,957 participants with obesity, 11.9 percent were diagnosed with anxiety and 11 percent with depression. In multivariate linear regression models, each 1-point increase in the MEDAS score led to a 0.18-point (95 percent confidence interval [CI], –0.33 to –0.03) decrease in STAI2 score and 0.10-point (95 percent CI, –0.16 to –0.03) reduction in QD score.

In addition, multivariate analysis revealed a decrease of 7 percent in the likelihood of anxiety (odds ratio [OR], 0.93, 95 percent CI, 0.89–0.99) and depression (OR, 0.93, 95 percent CI, 0.88–0.98) for each 1-point increase in the MEDAS score.

“Longitudinal studies are needed to determine causality,” the authors said 

This cross-sectional study examined the clinical history, anthropometric measurements, and lifestyle-related information of people with obesity (median age 49 years, 63.1 percent women, BMI 33.6 kg/m²).

The authors used the 14-item MEDAS questionnaire to assess adherence to the Mediterranean diet, as well as the 20-item STAI2 and 24-item QD questionnaires to assess the presence of anxiety and depression, respectively. They identified cases among patients with a confirmed diagnosis of anxiety and depression or with STAI2 and QD score ≥95th percentiles of reference population.

“Anxiety and depression are common mental disorders worldwide, in particular in people with obesity,” the authors said. “Adherence to the Mediterranean diet has been found beneficial for the prevention of anxiety and depression in the general population.”