Link Between Fast Food and Depression Confirmed

**tilltheend** · 03-31-2012, 11:23 AM

Link Between Fast Food and Depression Confirmed

(ScienceDaily)

A new study along the same lines as its predecessors shows how eating fast food is linked to a greater risk of suffering from depression. This study has been published in the Public Health Nutrition journal
According to a recent study headed by scientists from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the University of Granada, eating commercial baked goods (fairy cakes, croissants, doughnuts, etc.) and fast food (hamburgers, hotdogs and pizza) is linked to depression.

Published in the Public Health Nutrition journal, the results reveal that consumers of fast food, compared to those who eat little or none, are 51% more likely to develop depression.

Furthermore, a dose-response relationship was observed. In other words this means that "the more fast food you consume, the greater the risk of depression," explains Almudena Sánchez-Villegas, lead author of the study.

The study demonstrates that those participants who eat the most fast food and commercial baked goods are more likely to be single, less active and have poor dietary habits, which include eating less fruit, nuts, fish, vegetables and olive oil. Smoking and working more than 45 hours per week are other prevalent characteristics of this group.

A long-term study

With regard to the consumption of commercial baked goods, the results are equally conclusive. "Even eating small quantities is linked to a significantly higher chance of developing depression," as the university researcher from the Canary Islands points out.

The study sample belonged to the SUN Project (University of Navarra Diet and Lifestyle Tracking Program). It consisted of 8,964 participants that had never been diagnosed with depression or taken antidepressants. They were assessed for an average of six months, and 493 were diagnosed with depression or started to take antidepressants.

This new data supports the results of the SUN project in 2011, which were published in the PLoS One journal. The project recorded 657 new cases of depression out of the 12,059 people analysed over more than six months. A 42% increase in the risk associated with fast food was found, which is lower than that found in the current study.

Sánchez-Villegas concludes that "although more studies are necessary, the intake of this type of food should be controlled because of its implications on both health (obesity, cardiovascular diseases) and mental well-being."

The impact of diet on mental health

Depression affects 121 million people worldwide. This figure makes it one of the main global causes of disability-adjusted life year. Further still, in countries with low and medium income it is the leading cause.

However, little is known about the role that diet plays in developing depressive disorders. Previous studies suggest that certain nutrients have a preventative role. These include group B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids and olive oil. Furthermore, a healthy diet such as that enjoyed in the Mediterranean has been linked to a lower risk of developing depression.

**RS50** · 03-31-2012, 11:32 AM

The only thing depress me to do with fast food is I can't get my super size fry's anymore,due to some moms and dads not making their fat kids get off the ps3 and pc and making the kids go outside and and get some exercise

**tilltheend** · 03-31-2012, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by RS50

The only thing depress me to do with fast food is I can't get my super size fry's anymore,due to some moms and dads not making their fat kids get off the ps3 and pc and making the kids go outside and and get some exercise

Fast food is equally as bad as no exercise, fast food is the equivalent to being the exact opposite of anabolics. You eat mcdonalds, you get tired anyways, honestly think about it, who wants to eat a mcdonalds hamburger after a workout, and burp up that nasty ass onion taste, and smell like it too at that. Makes you feel bloated for the next few hours if not the whole fucking day. Its not the onions in it either, its the whole damn thing. Ok so, it makes you tired, that aids in you wanting to plop your ass in front of the televsion, and not want to go outside. Now make yourself a kid again, and think about this. Infact think if you were raised this way? Mcdonalds for breakfast, you don't want to do much of shit, over the years it adds up. You don't feel as good as you would eating a meal that isn't full of chemicals to mess up your endocrine system. Youd look healthier , feel healthier, so you'd be healthier. Its not brain surgery. Only thing I can stomach from mcdonalds is chicken nuggets. Those arent good for you either. So mcdonalds for breakfast, along with PS3, if it doesn't fuck the body up it will the brain, come read this when your 30 and have been eating the shit for 20 years.

**IronFox** · 03-31-2012, 01:06 PM

That is one interesting study and I am guilty of eating fast food a lot myself and now feeling sorry about myself after reading this. But don't people on a bulk eat fast food just to get the cals in?

**Thehog18** · 03-31-2012, 02:23 PM

Good read. Havent ate fast food in months and ive never felt better. Mentally, physically. dont miss it either is the weird thing

**RS50** · 03-31-2012, 02:47 PM

I really do agree with you, I just get tired of parents always trying to put the blame on someone or something else when it comes to their own kids being over weight and in bad health. To me it just goes to show the poor job they are doing in raising their kids, kids will be kids and will do want you let them do and get away with. Of course this will tell a little about my age, but there was no video games, pong wasn't even out until I was in high school. The first pc I ever saw I was about 17 or 18 years old, and it was commodore 64, no such thing as cable tv or the internet. As for the fast food people couldn't afford to go out to eat all the time, just a fast food hamburger was a special occasion. People also didn't go and buy all their food in cans with all the chemical and preservatives in them, you cooked and can your own and you knew what was in them.

But you also got exercise because in my younger years you had chores such as cutting the grass, raking leaves and anything else your parents told you to do, or you wouldn't get to go no where plus your ass would get torn up with a hickory stick. But when you did go out to play you would get exercise by running chasing each other play tag, some type of ball, riding bikes and things like this. Which now days in my own opinion kids get to much of the pc, video games, tv and when the parents ask them to do anything they just ask and don't make them do it if they don't want to.

But as I said I do agree with you but I'm sure all the bought chemical prepared food in the food store may also play a roll in this also.