Body Mass Index, energy and macronutrient intake and its correlation with mental health

Abstract

Introduction: Studies have shown that diet and mental health may be related, sometimes in a bidirectional relationship. Objectives: Evaluate the Body Mass Index and the intake of Energy and Macronutrient in relation to symptoms of Anxiety, Depression and Stress in a sample of the Portuguese adult population. Materials and Methods: The study sample consisted of 144 individuals (24.6 ± 5.6 years), 56.4% female and 45.1% male. An online survey (n=144) was conducted on the Google Forms platform that included questions about sociodemographic data, the Anxiety, Depression and Stress Scale (EADS-21) and the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Results: There was no statistically significant correlation between BMI and mental health. There were statistically significant correlations, in female gender, between sugar intake and symptoms of depression and stress, and in the male gender, correlations were found between complex carbohydrates intake and stress symptoms; total, polyunsaturated, and saturated fat intake with symptoms of depression and stress, as well as monounsaturated fat intake with depressive symptoms. Conclusion: The consumption of carbohydrates and fats appear to be correlated with mental health. A balanced diet is the basis to prevent a large part of the pathologies, including mental disorders.