Eating fast foods can lead to depression, a new study

Report by JENIFERLAMUG

A new study headed by scientists from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the University of Granada, claimed that regular consumption of fast food products like burgers, croissants, doughnuts, pizzas, fries and other baked goods are 50% more likely to become clinically depressed than those who abstain from it, a post suggests in a press release on Friday.

Almudena Sanchez-Villegas, the lead author of the study, which has been published in the journal Public Health Nutrition, explained that a dose-response relationship was observed. It means that if you eat more fast foods or commercial baked goods, the greater the risk of depression.

The study demonstrates that people who eat more of these kinds of foods show poor overall dietary habits. They are more likely to be single and less active. The prevalent characteristics of these people are smoking and working 45 hours per week.

However, the study also revealed that results are equally conclusive with regard to consumption of such foods.

"Even eating small quantities is linked to a significantly higher chance of developing depression," the lead author said.

Researchers had followed the sample of SUN Project (University of Navarra Diet and Lifestyle Tracking Program) with nearly 9,000 participants, who have never been diagnosed with depression or taken antidepressants.

After an average of six months assessment, nearly 500 of the participants were reported to had either received a diagnosis or had started taking antidepressants.

The new data supports the results of the SUN project in 2011 that was published in Plos One journal in which 657 new cases of depression were recorded out of the 12,059 people being observed for 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,” report says.

Sanchez-Villegas said that “more studies are necessary and the intake of these foods should be controlled because of its implications on both health (obesity, cardiovascular diseases) and mental well-being.”

Suppose you are the owner of giant fast foods like McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger king and the likes, how would you react on this study?

And one more thing, for sure everybody here loves to eat pizza, doughnuts and croissants, shoot in your comments.