Should you avoid eating French 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 increased risk of anxiety and depression.”
The scientists behind this study drew 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 French fries,” experienced a “12% and 7% increased risk of anxiety and depression, respectively,” compared to those who did not eat them, the article explains. published in PNAS.
The association is “more pronounced” in men and younger people, the study authors note. They believe their results “underscore the importance of reducing fried food consumption for mental health.”
According to Public Health France’s Health Barometer, 12.5% of people aged 18-85 experienced a major depressive episode during the 12 months prior to the survey conducted in France for most of 2021 and published in February 2023.
Causality 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, a specialist in preventive medicine and nutrition, for CNN.
“The causation could 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 can be drawn, it is simply that overall diet quality and healthy food choices have a significant impact on all aspects of health, both mental and physical,” the doctor’s report also said.
Source: BFM TV
