Association Between Junk Food Consumption and Mental Health Problems in Adults: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Overview

Journal BMC Psychiatry

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2024 Jun 12

PMID 38867156

Authors

Hanieh-Sadat Ejtahed

Parham Mardi

Bahram Hejrani

Fatemeh Sadat Mahdavi

Behnaz Ghoreshi

Kimia Gohari

Motahar Heidari-Beni

Mostafa Qorbani

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Anxiety and depression can seriously undermine mental health and quality of life globally. The consumption of junk foods, including ultra-processed foods, fast foods, unhealthy snacks, and sugar-sweetened beverages, has been linked to mental health. The aim of this study is to use the published literature to evaluate how junk food consumption may be associated with mental health disorders in adults.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted up to July 2023 across international databases including PubMed/Medline, ISI Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane, Google Scholar, and EMBASE. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed by two independent reviewers. Heterogeneity across studies was assessed using the I statistic and chi-square-based Q-test. A random/fixed effect meta-analysis was conducted to pool odds ratios (ORs) and hazard ratios (HRs).

Results: Of the 1745 retrieved articles, 17 studies with 159,885 participants were suitable for inclusion in the systematic review and meta-analysis (seven longitudinal, nine cross-sectional and one case-control studies). Quantitative synthesis based on cross-sectional studies showed that junk food consumption increases the odds of having stress and depression (OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.06 to 1.23). Moreover, pooling results of cohort studies showed that junk food consumption is associated with a 16% increment in the odds of developing mental health problems (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.07 to 1.24).

Conclusion: Meta-analysis revealed that consumption of junk foods was associated with an increased hazard of developing depression. Increased consumption of junk food has heightened the odds of depression and psychological stress being experienced in adult populations.

Citing Articles

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Food Consumption According to the NOVA Food Classification and Its Relationship with Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Women.

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Effects of Consuming White Button and Oyster Mushrooms within a Healthy Mediterranean-Style Dietary Pattern on Changes in Subjective Indexes of Brain Health or Cognitive Function in Healthy Middle-Aged and Older Adults.

Uffelman C, Harold R, Hodson E, Chan N, Foti D, Campbell W Foods. 2024; 13(15).

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