Fast-Food-Konsum wird mit Depressionen in Verbindung gebracht. Jede zusätzliche Fast-Food-Mahlzeit pro Woche war mit einem um 4 % höheren Risiko einer Depression verbunden. Dieser Zusammenhang war weitgehend unabhängig von Fettleibigkeit, obwohl Fettleibigkeit den Zusammenhang vermittelte, insbesondere bei Personen mit schwerer Fettleibigkeit.
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I’ve linked to the news release in the post above. In this comment, for those interested, here’s the link to the peer reviewed journal article:
https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0165032724011030
From the linked article:
Fast food consumption is associated with depression
An analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data revealed that each additional fast-food meal per week was associated with a 4% higher likelihood of depression. This association was largely independent of obesity, although obesity did mediate the link to some extent, particularly in individuals with severe obesity. The study was published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
The results showed that 11% of participating women and 7% of men exhibited clinical levels of depression symptoms. Individuals with higher levels of education were less likely to experience depression. Participants consuming more than two fast-food meals per week had 24% higher odds of depression compared to those consuming fewer than two fast-food meals per week.
Further analysis revealed that the relationship between fast food consumption and depression was largely independent of obesity, with obesity contributing negligibly to the overall link. However, the relationship differed among individuals with moderate and severe obesity. Statistical analyses of these subgroups supported the hypothesis that obesity might mediate the link between fast food consumption and depression. Specifically, fast food consumption may exacerbate obesity in these individuals, which, in turn, could worsen their depression symptoms.
I feel some small victory with my chronic depression and nigh-zero^* fast food, but I have no idea why.
^*If ^they ^are ^including ^delivered ^pizza, ^I ^get ^that ^once ^a ^month ^or ^so.
Thats why i stopped eating fast food (most of the time) and started to smoke cannabis. Much better now for me.
Only measured in people who eat fast food twice a week? Thats a bit *less* than the US average. I’m not sure what exactly this would point to other than perhaps that they found an association with obesity, not neccisarily fast food. Not to mention antidepressants can contribute to obesity and so can depression itself, so there is that as well.
Just a guess, but I think they got the causation backwards. Isn’t it more likely that depression causes more frequent trips for fast food… and anything else that pushes dopamine for a quick feel good?
The recent finding that most dopamine is synthesized by gut bacteria is pretty wild. And in line with this
Fast-food causes depression, or depressed people resort to fast-food? I’m strongly trending towards the latter. When you account for calories and macronutrients, exactly where those nutrients come from actually seems to matter less than one would think.
I think this is one of those cases of correlation does not mean causation. What is the reason for eating fast food in the first place? People who suffer from depression tend to eat more unhealthy food in general. It can also be the result of being poor and lack of funds for a healthier diet. Being poor has a much stronger link to depression, for instance.
And if it’s ordered to your house via delivery, then it’s fast food. Wonder what the difference is between fast food and ultra-processed food that you buy yourself and cook in relation to depression? Or ultra-processed food like Morningstar plant meat replacements?
I thought it was just the good ol seasonal depression I was feeling since its my first time further north, and the sun is down by the time I get off work…
Nope, its the wendy’s or mcdonalds I ate almost every lunch. I gained weight last month and stopped going to those places. Plus I got a big dog so I typically walk or jog a mile or 2 after work most days and both of those things I can attest to having a significant affect on my overall mood.
Its not fake. Be healthier and feel healthier, for real.
P.S. not discounting real depression. I don’t have that and can sympathize with anyone struggling through that.