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CTV News
03-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Calorie-cutting diets could be tied to worsening depression, study suggests
Going too far with a diet might have serious impacts on your mental health. Cutting your calories down too far could be linked with worse depression symptoms, new research suggests. A study published Tuesday in the journal BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health looked at data from more than 28,000 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which surveyed participants on their diet quality and depressive symptoms. People who followed a calorie-restrictive diet, particularly men and people with a body mass index considered overweight, were more likely to have higher symptoms of depression, according to the data. Quality of diet also mattered. People who reported a diet with more ultra-processed foods, refined carbs, saturated fats, processed meats and sweets were more likely to report higher levels of depression and those who ate more of a Mediterranean-style diet generally had lower risk of depression, the study showed. 'The findings suggest caution with overly restrictive or unbalanced diets, particularly for people already experiencing weight-related stress or challenges,' said lead study author Dr. Venkat Bhat, psychiatrist, clinician-researcher and director of the Interventional Psychiatry Program at St. Michael's Hospital and University of Toronto. Instead, Bhat suggests 'opting for balanced, sustainable dietary changes that meet nutritional needs and consider individual psychological impacts may help minimize potential negative effects on mood.' A different finding from previous studies There are some limitations to consider when looking at the results. The design of the study can only show associations, not definitively say that calorie restriction causes an increase in depression symptoms, Bhat said. In addition, the study surveyed people on their dietary patterns, which leaves room for error, said Dr. Kary Woodruff, associate professor (lecturer) and director of the nutrition and integrated physiology department's coordinated master's program at the University of Utah. She was not involved in the research. 'I could think I am on a calorie-restricted diet when in fact I may be in a calorie surplus — there's no way to verify participant's calorie-restriction status,' Woodruff said. The study is large and controlled for other factors that could drive the associations found, but its findings contrast with those of previous studies around the topic of calorie restriction and depression, Bhat said. Other studies have found that calorie-restricted diets reduce depressive symptoms, said Dr. Johanna Keeler, postdoctoral researcher at King's College London. Keeler was not involved in the study. One difference is that previous research, including a 2023 paper that Keeler coauthored, studied restrictive diets supervised by medical professional. 'Therefore, these findings might reflect that unsupervised dieting, which can produce nutritional deficiencies, might not be good for depressive symptoms,' Keeler said. More research and randomized control trials may be needed to fully understand how dieting impacts mental health, Bhat said. When restriction might impact depression There are several reasons why the calorie restriction seen in the most recent study might be associated with a negative mental health impact. Previous studies, including Keeler's, found that low-calorie diets that resulted in weight loss for people classified as overweight or obese was associated with reduced depression symptoms. That could be because of physiological changes, improved physical mobility or increased positive social feedback, Keeler said. 'Embarking on a calorie restricted diet without experiencing weight loss, or experiencing 'weight cycling' might not produce improvements in depression, and on top of that may be frustrating or disheartening to individuals, causing an increase in depression,' Keeler said in an email. When calories are too restricted or not enough nutrients are being provided by a diet, there could be an interruption in physical processes that could lead to fatigue, sleep problems and difficulty concentrating, Keeler added. Extreme dieting patterns also are linked to increased anxiety and a higher risk for an eating disorder, Woodruff said. 'The key is to examine what — and how much — is being restricted. Focusing on following a healthful eating pattern that supports mild to moderate caloric restriction may improve depressive symptoms and mood, whereas extreme behaviors can exacerbate mental, emotional, and physical health,' she said via email. Finding balance How a person responds to a diet varies among individuals, and the results of the study highlight the need for personalized dietary recommendations and consideration of psychological factors in addition to physical health, Bhat said. With so much contrasting advice when it comes to nutrition and what's the best approach for your own nutrition, Keeler recommends input from a medical professional before starting any weight loss efforts. Even if you want to lose weight, focusing too much on heavy calorie restriction might not be the most sustainable option, said Natalie Mokari, a dietitian in Charlotte, North Carolina. Instead, she recommends small changes to move toward a more balanced lifestyle. Start by looking at your meals, Mokari said. Does your plate have a protein, carbohydrate, healthy fat, and some fiber and nutrients through fruits and vegetables? Try prioritizing adding in the nutrition you need first, then see whether there are elements you don't need anymore, she said. Perhaps if you eat from all of your food groups and slow your meals down, you will realize you don't need to grab a second helping or you won't feel the same urgency to grab a sweet treat after, Mokari said. 'Regardless of weight loss, improving dietary quality can significantly improve overall health and quality of life,' Woodruff said. 'Consider working with a registered dietitian to understand what a healthful dietary pattern can look like for you.'
CNN
03-06-2025
- Health
- CNN
Calorie-cutting diets could be tied to worsening depression, study suggests
Going too far with a diet might have serious impacts on your mental health. Cutting your calories down too far could be linked with worse depression symptoms, new research suggests. A study published Tuesday in the journal BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health looked at data from more than 28,000 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which surveyed participants on their diet quality and depressive symptoms. People who followed a calorie-restrictive diet, particularly men and people with a body mass index considered overweight, were more likely to have higher symptoms of depression, according to the data. Quality of diet also mattered. People who reported a diet with more ultraprocessed foods, refined carbs, saturated fats, processed meats and sweets were more likely to report higher levels of depression and those who ate more of a Mediterranean-style diet generally had lower risk of depression, the study showed. 'The findings suggest caution with overly restrictive or unbalanced diets, particularly for people already experiencing weight-related stress or challenges,' said lead study author Dr. Venkat Bhat, psychiatrist, clinician-researcher and director of the Interventional Psychiatry Program at St. Michael's Hospital and University of Toronto. Instead, Bhat suggests 'opting for balanced, sustainable dietary changes that meet nutritional needs and consider individual psychological impacts may help minimize potential negative effects on mood.' There are some limitations to consider when looking at the results. The design of the study can only show associations, not definitively say that calorie restriction causes an increase in depression symptoms, Bhat said. In addition, the study surveyed people on their dietary patterns, which leaves room for error, said Dr. Kary Woodruff, associate professor (lecturer) and director of the nutrition and integrated physiology department's coordinated master's program at the University of Utah. She was not involved in the research. 'I could think I am on a calorie-restricted diet when in fact I may be in a calorie surplus — there's no way to verify participant's calorie-restriction status,' Woodruff said. The study is large and controlled for other factors that could drive the associations found, but its findings contrast with those of previous studies around the topic of calorie restriction and depression, Bhat said. Other studies have found that calorie-restricted diets reduce depressive symptoms, said Dr. Johanna Keeler, postdoctoral researcher at King's College London. Keeler was not involved in the study. One difference is that previous research, including a 2023 paper that Keeler coauthored, studied restrictive diets supervised by medical professional. 'Therefore, these findings might reflect that unsupervised dieting, which can produce nutritional deficiencies, might not be good for depressive symptoms,' Keeler said. More research and randomized control trials may be needed to fully understand how dieting impacts mental health, Bhat said. There are several reasons why the calorie restriction seen in the most recent study might be associated with a negative mental health impact. Previous studies, including Keeler's, found that low-calorie diets that resulted in weight loss for people classified as overweight or obese was associated with reduced depression symptoms. That could be because of physiological changes, improved physical mobility or increased positive social feedback, Keeler said. 'Embarking on a calorie restricted diet without experiencing weight loss, or experiencing 'weight cycling' might not produce improvements in depression, and on top of that may be frustrating or disheartening to individuals, causing an increase in depression,' Keeler said in an email. When calories are too restricted or not enough nutrients are being provided by a diet, there could be an interruption in physical processes that could lead to fatigue, sleep problems and difficulty concentrating, Keeler added. Extreme dieting patterns also are linked to increased anxiety and a higher risk for an eating disorder, Woodruff said. 'The key is to examine what — and how much — is being restricted. Focusing on following a healthful eating pattern that supports mild to moderate caloric restriction may improve depressive symptoms and mood, whereas extreme behaviors can exacerbate mental, emotional, and physical health,' she said via email. How a person responds to a diet varies among individuals, and the results of the study highlight the need for personalized dietary recommendations and consideration of psychological factors in addition to physical health, Bhat said. With so much contrasting advice when it comes to nutrition and what's the best approach for your own nutrition, Keeler recommends input from a medical professional before starting any weight loss efforts. Even if you want to lose weight, focusing too much on heavy calorie restriction might not be the most sustainable option, said Natalie Mokari, a dietitian in Charlotte, North Carolina. Instead, she recommends small changes to move toward a more balanced lifestyle. Start by looking at your meals, Mokari said. Does your plate have a protein, carbohydrate, healthy fat, and some fiber and nutrients through fruits and vegetables? Try prioritizing adding in the nutrition you need first, then see whether there are elements you don't need anymore, she said. Perhaps if you eat from all of your food groups and slow your meals down, you will realize you don't need to grab a second helping or you won't feel the same urgency to grab a sweet treat after, Mokari said. 'Regardless of weight loss, improving dietary quality can significantly improve overall health and quality of life,' Woodruff said. 'Consider working with a registered dietitian to understand what a healthful dietary pattern can look like for you.' Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN's Life, But Better newsletter for information and tools designed to improve your well-being.
CNN
03-06-2025
- Health
- CNN
Calorie-cutting diets could be tied to worsening depression, study suggests
Food & health Mental healthFacebookTweetLink Follow Going too far with a diet might have serious impacts on your mental health. Cutting your calories down too far could be linked with worse depression symptoms, new research suggests. A study published Tuesday in the journal BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health looked at data from more than 28,000 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which surveyed participants on their diet quality and depressive symptoms. People who followed a calorie-restrictive diet, particularly men and people with a body mass index considered overweight, were more likely to have higher symptoms of depression, according to the data. Quality of diet also mattered. People who reported a diet with more ultraprocessed foods, refined carbs, saturated fats, processed meats and sweets were more likely to report higher levels of depression and those who ate more of a Mediterranean-style diet generally had lower risk of depression, the study showed. 'The findings suggest caution with overly restrictive or unbalanced diets, particularly for people already experiencing weight-related stress or challenges,' said lead study author Dr. Venkat Bhat, psychiatrist, clinician-researcher and director of the Interventional Psychiatry Program at St. Michael's Hospital and University of Toronto. Instead, Bhat suggests 'opting for balanced, sustainable dietary changes that meet nutritional needs and consider individual psychological impacts may help minimize potential negative effects on mood.' There are some limitations to consider when looking at the results. The design of the study can only show associations, not definitively say that calorie restriction causes an increase in depression symptoms, Bhat said. In addition, the study surveyed people on their dietary patterns, which leaves room for error, said Dr. Kary Woodruff, associate professor (lecturer) and director of the nutrition and integrated physiology department's coordinated master's program at the University of Utah. She was not involved in the research. 'I could think I am on a calorie-restricted diet when in fact I may be in a calorie surplus — there's no way to verify participant's calorie-restriction status,' Woodruff said. The study is large and controlled for other factors that could drive the associations found, but its findings contrast with those of previous studies around the topic of calorie restriction and depression, Bhat said. Other studies have found that calorie-restricted diets reduce depressive symptoms, said Dr. Johanna Keeler, postdoctoral researcher at King's College London. Keeler was not involved in the study. One difference is that previous research, including a 2023 paper that Keeler coauthored, studied restrictive diets supervised by medical professional. 'Therefore, these findings might reflect that unsupervised dieting, which can produce nutritional deficiencies, might not be good for depressive symptoms,' Keeler said. More research and randomized control trials may be needed to fully understand how dieting impacts mental health, Bhat said. There are several reasons why the calorie restriction seen in the most recent study might be associated with a negative mental health impact. Previous studies, including Keeler's, found that low-calorie diets that resulted in weight loss for people classified as overweight or obese was associated with reduced depression symptoms. That could be because of physiological changes, improved physical mobility or increased positive social feedback, Keeler said. 'Embarking on a calorie restricted diet without experiencing weight loss, or experiencing 'weight cycling' might not produce improvements in depression, and on top of that may be frustrating or disheartening to individuals, causing an increase in depression,' Keeler said in an email. When calories are too restricted or not enough nutrients are being provided by a diet, there could be an interruption in physical processes that could lead to fatigue, sleep problems and difficulty concentrating, Keeler added. Extreme dieting patterns also are linked to increased anxiety and a higher risk for an eating disorder, Woodruff said. 'The key is to examine what — and how much — is being restricted. Focusing on following a healthful eating pattern that supports mild to moderate caloric restriction may improve depressive symptoms and mood, whereas extreme behaviors can exacerbate mental, emotional, and physical health,' she said via email. How a person responds to a diet varies among individuals, and the results of the study highlight the need for personalized dietary recommendations and consideration of psychological factors in addition to physical health, Bhat said. With so much contrasting advice when it comes to nutrition and what's the best approach for your own nutrition, Keeler recommends input from a medical professional before starting any weight loss efforts. Even if you want to lose weight, focusing too much on heavy calorie restriction might not be the most sustainable option, said Natalie Mokari, a dietitian in Charlotte, North Carolina. Instead, she recommends small changes to move toward a more balanced lifestyle. Start by looking at your meals, Mokari said. Does your plate have a protein, carbohydrate, healthy fat, and some fiber and nutrients through fruits and vegetables? Try prioritizing adding in the nutrition you need first, then see whether there are elements you don't need anymore, she said. Perhaps if you eat from all of your food groups and slow your meals down, you will realize you don't need to grab a second helping or you won't feel the same urgency to grab a sweet treat after, Mokari said. 'Regardless of weight loss, improving dietary quality can significantly improve overall health and quality of life,' Woodruff said. 'Consider working with a registered dietitian to understand what a healthful dietary pattern can look like for you.' Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN's Life, But Better newsletter for information and tools designed to improve your well-being.
CNN
03-06-2025
- Health
- CNN
Calorie-cutting diets could be tied to worsening depression, study suggests
Food & health Mental healthFacebookTweetLink Follow Going too far with a diet might have serious impacts on your mental health. Cutting your calories down too far could be linked with worse depression symptoms, new research suggests. A study published Tuesday in the journal BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health looked at data from more than 28,000 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which surveyed participants on their diet quality and depressive symptoms. People who followed a calorie-restrictive diet, particularly men and people with a body mass index considered overweight, were more likely to have higher symptoms of depression, according to the data. Quality of diet also mattered. People who reported a diet with more ultraprocessed foods, refined carbs, saturated fats, processed meats and sweets were more likely to report higher levels of depression and those who ate more of a Mediterranean-style diet generally had lower risk of depression, the study showed. 'The findings suggest caution with overly restrictive or unbalanced diets, particularly for people already experiencing weight-related stress or challenges,' said lead study author Dr. Venkat Bhat, psychiatrist, clinician-researcher and director of the Interventional Psychiatry Program at St. Michael's Hospital and University of Toronto. Instead, Bhat suggests 'opting for balanced, sustainable dietary changes that meet nutritional needs and consider individual psychological impacts may help minimize potential negative effects on mood.' There are some limitations to consider when looking at the results. The design of the study can only show associations, not definitively say that calorie restriction causes an increase in depression symptoms, Bhat said. In addition, the study surveyed people on their dietary patterns, which leaves room for error, said Dr. Kary Woodruff, associate professor (lecturer) and director of the nutrition and integrated physiology department's coordinated master's program at the University of Utah. She was not involved in the research. 'I could think I am on a calorie-restricted diet when in fact I may be in a calorie surplus — there's no way to verify participant's calorie-restriction status,' Woodruff said. The study is large and controlled for other factors that could drive the associations found, but its findings contrast with those of previous studies around the topic of calorie restriction and depression, Bhat said. Other studies have found that calorie-restricted diets reduce depressive symptoms, said Dr. Johanna Keeler, postdoctoral researcher at King's College London. Keeler was not involved in the study. One difference is that previous research, including a 2023 paper that Keeler coauthored, studied restrictive diets supervised by medical professional. 'Therefore, these findings might reflect that unsupervised dieting, which can produce nutritional deficiencies, might not be good for depressive symptoms,' Keeler said. More research and randomized control trials may be needed to fully understand how dieting impacts mental health, Bhat said. There are several reasons why the calorie restriction seen in the most recent study might be associated with a negative mental health impact. Previous studies, including Keeler's, found that low-calorie diets that resulted in weight loss for people classified as overweight or obese was associated with reduced depression symptoms. That could be because of physiological changes, improved physical mobility or increased positive social feedback, Keeler said. 'Embarking on a calorie restricted diet without experiencing weight loss, or experiencing 'weight cycling' might not produce improvements in depression, and on top of that may be frustrating or disheartening to individuals, causing an increase in depression,' Keeler said in an email. When calories are too restricted or not enough nutrients are being provided by a diet, there could be an interruption in physical processes that could lead to fatigue, sleep problems and difficulty concentrating, Keeler added. Extreme dieting patterns also are linked to increased anxiety and a higher risk for an eating disorder, Woodruff said. 'The key is to examine what — and how much — is being restricted. Focusing on following a healthful eating pattern that supports mild to moderate caloric restriction may improve depressive symptoms and mood, whereas extreme behaviors can exacerbate mental, emotional, and physical health,' she said via email. How a person responds to a diet varies among individuals, and the results of the study highlight the need for personalized dietary recommendations and consideration of psychological factors in addition to physical health, Bhat said. With so much contrasting advice when it comes to nutrition and what's the best approach for your own nutrition, Keeler recommends input from a medical professional before starting any weight loss efforts. Even if you want to lose weight, focusing too much on heavy calorie restriction might not be the most sustainable option, said Natalie Mokari, a dietitian in Charlotte, North Carolina. Instead, she recommends small changes to move toward a more balanced lifestyle. Start by looking at your meals, Mokari said. Does your plate have a protein, carbohydrate, healthy fat, and some fiber and nutrients through fruits and vegetables? Try prioritizing adding in the nutrition you need first, then see whether there are elements you don't need anymore, she said. Perhaps if you eat from all of your food groups and slow your meals down, you will realize you don't need to grab a second helping or you won't feel the same urgency to grab a sweet treat after, Mokari said. 'Regardless of weight loss, improving dietary quality can significantly improve overall health and quality of life,' Woodruff said. 'Consider working with a registered dietitian to understand what a healthful dietary pattern can look like for you.' Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN's Life, But Better newsletter for information and tools designed to improve your well-being.
CTV News
02-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
A new COVID-19 subvariant has emerged. Here is why experts in Ontario say there is no reason to panic
A new subvariant of COVID-19 that has been circulating in some parts of the world for months has now made its way to the United States but experts say that there is no cause for concern just yet. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), NB.1.8.1 derives from the recombinant variant XDV.1.5.1 and is one of six current 'variants under monitoring' due to its mutations and global spread. Dr. Fahad Razak, Canada Research Chair at the University of Toronto and internal medicine physician at St. Michael's Hospital, tells CTV News Toronto that a variant under monitoring—or a VUM—is different from variant of concerns, which often resulted in an exponential rise in transmission when they emerged and quickly became dominant during the pandemic. The key difference between both variant types, Razak says, is that VUMs will likely not swamp the health-care system or cause more severe illness like variants of concern will. 'Over the last couple of years, despite seeing many mutations, we have not had a new variant of concern emerge and this current variant, NB.1.8.1 is being called a variant (under) monitoring, meaning that it is clearly spreading, but it is not showing any of those concerning features that make us more worried,' Razak said. Here's what we know about the new subvariant so far: What is NB.1.8.1? The WHO says NB.1.8.1 has been detected in 22 countries as of May 18. This represented 10.7 per cent of COVID cases seen worldwide in the last full week of April, which the WHO says is a notable rise from the 2.5 per cent noted in the first week of April. Compared to other co-circulating variants, the number of cases related to NB.1.8.1 is growing faster—however, the WHO notes its expansion has only recently started to rise and that some regions have not yet detected it. Has it made its way to Ontario? Based on the latest data from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), which breaks down the percentage of COVID-19 cases by variant grouping on a weekly basis, there are no cases of NB.1.8.1. recorded in the country. Both Razak and Infectious diseases expert Dr. Isaac Bogoch say it is likely the new variant will make its way here eventually but Razak notes Canada does not provide a 'reliable estimate across the country anymore.' 'We used to do regular testing for sequence across the country. They would be coordinated by public health labs in each province and then collated federally,' Razak said. 'That was done during the peak of the pandemic and (had) a lot of value in helping us understand the degree of spread, especially when we had these variants of concern.' If there was a new variant that showed more severe disease, a high degree of spread or evading the vaccine, Razak thinks many parts of the world would be vulnerable since the level of monitoring is not what it used to be. 'We don't have the level of uptake of vaccines that we had two or three years ago, and so those factors would mean you could have something spread and you would have lower levels of protection, and so you could have a lot of people sick,' Razak said. But, Razak says, that there hasn't been a major variant of concern in years. Public Health Ontario tells CTV News Toronto that, to date, this variant has not been included in its reporting but note its next report will be published next week. Toronto Public Health, meanwhile, does not break down what variants of COVID-19 are seen in in the city. It does provide general data for how prevalent the virus is at this time. The latest epidemiological data from TPH shows a 1.8 per cent positivity rate from May 11 to May 17, showing the activity levels of the virus are currently 'low.' Are the symptoms any different? Bogoch says the symptoms from NB.1.8.1. are similar to what one would get if they contracted any Omicron sub-lineage in the last three years, which could cause fever, fatigue, cough, and shortness of breath. 'There's a well-trodden path of who's at greater risk for more severe manifestations of the virus, namely, people on the older end of the spectrum and people with underlying medical comorbidities,' Bogoch said. 'So, it doesn't sound like, apart from a subtle genetic change, it doesn't sound like there's anything new about this (variant) in terms of clinical presentation, risk factors for severity of illness (and) transmission.' The guidance on how to protect yourself also remains unchanged, Razak says. 'When you have periods like this, like, let's say we have started to see a high degree of spread in Canada, the advice that we've given the last few years would hold just as strongly. If your vaccine hasn't been updated, update your vaccine,' Razak said. Masking in crowded places, frequently washing hands and enhancing air circulation when indoors are also other methods to prevent the virus from spreading between person to person. What if you haven't had a recent vaccine? Bogoch says that, for some time now, the COVID-19 vaccines 'doesn't protect against infection nearly to the same extent as it once did.' 'The vaccines can provide a little bit of protection against infection for a short period of time—they can—but the real role of the vaccine is to significantly reduce the risk of severe illness that is primarily in those with risk factors for severe illness,' Bogoch said. 'Long are the days where the vaccine was a formidable force in preventing infection and subsequent onward transmission. We haven't been that era in years.' The vaccine can reduce the risk of infection but after about six months, its protection starts to wane, Razak says. 'Our National Advisory Committee on Immunization, they have continued to say that high-risk individuals—for example, older individuals, people who are immunosuppressed, people who are being treated for rheumatologic illness or cancer where their immune systems are notworking—they would benefit from getting their updates every six months,' Razak said.
