French fries potato they are a favorite food for many, but a new study links them to mental health issues.

A research team in Hangzhou, China found that frequent consumption of fried foods, especially french fries, was associated with a 12% higher risk of anxiety and a 7% higher risk of depression compared to people who did not eat fried foods. The connection is stronger among younger men and younger consumers.

Fried foods are a known risk factor for obesity and high blood pressure. The findings provide a “window” on the importance of reducing fried foods for mental health, according to an article published Monday in the journal PNAS.

However, nutrition experts stressed that the results are preliminary, and it is not yet clear how fried food is associated with mental health problems – people experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety may simply prefer fried food.

The study involved 140,728 people for 11.3 years. After excluding participants who were diagnosed with depression during the first two years, there were a total of 8,294 cases of anxiety and 12,735 cases of depression in people who ate fried foods, in particular fried potatoes were associated with a 2% increased risk depression compared to roasted white meat.

The study also found that participants who regularly consumed more than one serving of fried foods were more likely to be younger males.

“The human component of this study may indicate that a higher intake of fried foods increases the risk of an anxiety-depressive disorder,” says Dr. David Katz, an expert in lifestyle medicine who was not involved in the study.

“However, the causal relationship could also be reversed: people suffering from anxiety and depression are increasingly turning to ‘soothing foods’ for some semblance of relief,” added Katz, founder of the nonprofit True Health Initiative, a global coalition. lifestyle medicine professionals.

“People with underlying symptoms of anxiety and depression may turn to comfort products as a way of self-healing,” he said.

According to earlier research, which includes newer ones, unhealthy foods and poor nutrition can lower mood and increase the development of mental health conditions.

Zhejiang University researcher Yu Zhang, author of the study, told CNN that “there’s no need to panic about the side effects of fried foods,” but maintaining a healthy lifestyle and cutting down on fried foods can be good for mental health.

The researchers pointed to a recent rise in depression and anxiety around the world, with increases of 27.6% and 25.6%, respectively, recorded in 2020. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 5% of adults suffer from depression worldwide.

Source: CNN