A study published in the scientific journal PNAS points to a link between the risk of anxiety and depression and the frequent consumption of fried foods. However, it could be explained by the fact of turning to foods perceived as comforting in the event of mental health problems.
Should you avoid eating fries to preserve your sanity? A study published Monday in the American scientific journal PNAS states that “frequent consumption of fried foods is strongly associated with a higher risk of anxiety and depression”.
The scientists behind this study relied on a panel of more than 140,000 people over 11 years, according to CNN. Those who had a “frequent consumption of fried foods, especially fried potatoes”, experienced a “12% and 7% higher risk of anxiety and depression, respectively”, compared to those who did not. don’t eat it, explains the article published in PNAS.
The association is “more pronounced” in men and younger people, the study authors point out. They believe that their results “underscore the importance of reducing the consumption of fried foods for mental health”.
According to Health barometer from Public Health France, 12.5% of people aged 18 to 85 experienced a major depressive episode in the 12 months preceding the survey conducted in France for almost all of 2021 and published in February 2023.
Causation could “go the other way”
The study, however, does not establish with certainty a causal link between fried foods and mental health, said Dr. David Katz, specialist in preventive medicine and nutrition, with CNN.
“The causation could just as easily be the other way around: people with anxiety or depression are increasingly turning to comfort foods to find some semblance of relief,” he explained. .
“If any conclusion is to be drawn, it’s simply that the overall quality of the diet and the choice of healthy foods have a significant impact on all aspects of health, both mental and physical,” the report also said. doctor.
