The Relationship between Low Carbohydrate Diet Score and Mental Health in Overweight and Obese Women

Abstract

Background and Objectives: There is a bilateral relationship between mental health and overweight and obesity. In various studies, the association between dietary carbohydrate and mental health, have been controversially reported. Therefore, for the first time, we investigated the association between low carbohydrate diet score (LCDS) and mental health in overweight and obese women. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 360 obese and overweight women aged between 18 and 50 years, who were resident in Tehran city, were selected. A 47-item semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), was used to collect the dietary intake over the past year. LCDS was also calculated for all individuals. The psychiatric health statue was evaluated using a 21-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) questionnaire. ANOVA and linear regression, were used to analyze the data. Results: The results of the present study, showed that anxiety (p = 0.03), stress (p = 0.03), and depression (p= 0.02) had a significant inverse relationship with LCDS after adjusting for confounders (age, body mass index, physical activity, and total energy intake). Conclusion: The current study revealed that lower amount of carbohydrate in diet is associated with mental health (anxiety, stress, and depression). Prospective studies are required to confirm these findings.

Keywords

• diet
• carbohydrate-restricted
• mental health
• obesity
• overweight.