“Cutting Calories: Is It Really Healthy? Discover How It Could Be Harming Your Mental Well-Being” – Lifestyle Insights

Losing weight can be tricky. Many people start with the advice to “cut calories,” but recent studies suggest this may harm your mental health. Surprisingly, cutting calories might raise the risk of depression, especially for men and those who are overweight.

A study published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health on June 3 reveals that those on low-calorie diets tend to show more signs of depression than people who don’t diet at all. The research, involving health data from over 28,500 adults, found that nearly 8% reported experiencing depressive symptoms, while 87% weren’t following any specific diet.

Dr. Venkat Bhat, a lead researcher at the University of Toronto, points out that the relationship between low-calorie diets and depression appears stronger in men and those who are overweight. He explains that cutting calories can deprive the brain of vital nutrients such as glucose and healthy fats, which are essential for mood and cognitive function. Without a steady energy supply, irritability, fatigue, and depressive symptoms may increase.

The study highlights that of those on specific diets, around 8% were on calorie-restricted diets, while a smaller portion followed nutrient-restrictive plans. Notably, those who were overweight or on any restrictive diet had the highest depression scores. Interestingly, men showed greater negative effects from dieting compared to women.

This is a shift from previous research that suggested low-calorie diets could improve mood. Older studies often involved controlled environments with balanced diets under supervision. In contrast, many people today follow unsupervised and often imbalanced diets that can hurt mental health.

Nutrition expert Dr. Sumantra Ray from the NNEdPro Global Institute highlights the importance of nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin B12 in maintaining emotional well-being. While he acknowledges the significance of these findings, he stresses the need for more detailed studies to fully understand the relationship between diet and mental health.

So, if you’re aiming to lose weight, remember to balance your mental health with your dietary choices. Instead of just focusing on cutting calories, consider what you are eating. Consulting a nutritionist or dietitian can provide personalized guidance to ensure you’re taking care of both your body and mind.



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