Women who consume a lot of ultra-processed foods and beverages – especially those loaded with artificial sweeteners – are more likely to develop depression, according to new research.
Researchers examined data from dietary questionnaires completed by nearly 32,000 women between 2003 and 2017. At the start of the study, participants ranged in age from 42 to 62, and none had a history of depression.
Over the course of the study, more than 2,100 people developed depression, as determined by both a clinical diagnosis and a prescription for an antidepressant medication. Using a broader definition that included people who reported either a formal diagnosis or antidepressant use, a total of 4,840 participants developed depression during the study.
In the study results, published Sept. 20 in JAMA Network Open, participants who consumed the most ultra-processed foods were 49 percent more likely to develop depression under the strict definition and 34 percent more likely to experience the mental health condition under the broader definition.
“The nutritional quality of our diets affects overall health, including mental health,” says Connie Diekman, RD, an instructor at Fontbonne University in St. Louis and past president of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, who wasn’t involved in the new study. “So choosing nutrient-dense foods should be our first priority.”