Bidirectional Link between Eating Habits, Lifestyle, Physical Exercise and Depression and Other Mental Disorders

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition and Public Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 September 2024 | Viewed by 3181

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Clinical Psychology, Clinical Psychophysiology and Clinical Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
Interests: nutrition; psychopathology; mental illness; mood disorders; clinical health psychology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Clinical Psychology, Clinical Psychophysiology, and Clinical Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
Interests: nutrition; psychopathology; clinical psychology; clinical neuropsychology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

About 280 million people in the world suffer from depression and 301 million suffer from anxiety, with a worldwide prevalence of 4.4% and 3.6%, respectively (WHO, 2019). These data are even more alarming considering that the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically exacerbated experiences of mental illness. Depression has many causes. Being a condition that affects psychophysical balance, it can, sometimes, be traced back to mental discomfort, whereas, in other cases, it can be linked to biological deficit. More specifically, deflected mood associated with marked psychopathology can generate serious behavioral and autonomic manifestations such as social withdrawal, apathy, asthenia, and anhedonia. However, sometimes specific medical conditions or nutritional deficiencies can generate mood alterations secondarily. For example, some nutritional deficiencies related to the poor absorption or intake of specific micronutrients (i.e., vitamins in group B, D, etc.) can mimic a depressive episode, manifesting as deficits in concentration and other cognitive symptoms.

In many cases, especially if the biological and autonomic alterations are primary, the integration of specific nutrients and micronutrients can be fundamental. Other times, however, an optimal lifestyle can assist traditional therapies or replace them if the period is critical (i.e., adolescence, post-partum, etc). Furthermore, sporting activities can also promote mental health by facilitating the release of specific neurotransmitters capable of making the autonomic nervous system more resilient.

Moreover, there are also psychopathological conditions related to eating and obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders (i.e., orthorexia) that are capable of generating serious organic impairments.

The objective of this proposed Special Issue on “Bidirectional Link between Eating Habits, Lifestyle, Physical Exercise and Depression and Other Mental Disorders” is to publish selected articles detailing specific aspects of nutrition and other lifestyle interventions, such as participation in physical activity. Contributions describing the effects of mental health on lifestyle and physical health are welcome, as well as works illustrating how specific nutrients and micronutrients can promote better psycho-physical well-being.

Prof. Dr. Carlo Pruneti
Guest Editor

Sara Guidotti
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • depression
  • eating habits
  • lifestyle
  • physical activity
  • body–mind integration
  • autonomic imbalance
  • non-pharmacological treatments
  • nutritional deficit
  • biological abnormalities
  • psychopathology

Published Papers (5 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

14 pages, 688 KiB  
Article
Diet Quality and Resilience through Adulthood: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the WELL for Life Study
by Sparkle Springfield-Trice, Cara Joyce, Yi-Hsuan Wu, Ann W. Hsing, Kristen Cunanan and Christopher Gardner
Nutrients 2024, 16(11), 1724; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16111724 - 31 May 2024
Abstract
Despite evidence suggesting the importance of psychological resilience for successful aging, little is known about the relationship between diet quality and resilience at different ages. Our study aims to examine the association between diet quality and resilience across the stages of adulthood. Using [...] Read more.
Despite evidence suggesting the importance of psychological resilience for successful aging, little is known about the relationship between diet quality and resilience at different ages. Our study aims to examine the association between diet quality and resilience across the stages of adulthood. Using Stanfords’ WELL for Life (WELL) survey data, we conducted a cross-sectional study of diet quality, resilience, sociodemographic, perceived stress, lifestyle, and mental health factors among 6171 Bay Area adults. Diet quality was measured by the WELL Diet Score, which ranges from 0–120. A higher score indicates a better diet quality. Linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between the WELL Diet Score and overall resilience and within the following age groups: early young (18–24), late young (25–34), middle (35–49), and late adulthood (≥50). To test whether these associations varied by age groups, an age group by resilience interaction term was also examined. In the fully adjusted model, the WELL Diet Score was positively and significantly associated with overall resilience (all ages (β = 1.2 ± sd: 0.2, p < 0.001)) and within each age group (early young (β = 1.1 ± sd: 0.3, p < 0.001); late young (β = 1.2 ± sd: 0.3, p < 0.001); middle (β = 0.9 ± sd: 0.3, p < 0.001); and late adulthood (β = 1.0 ± sd: 0.3, p < 0.001)). Young adults demonstrated the strongest associations between diet quality and resilience. However, there were no significant age-by-resilience interactions. Diet quality may be positively associated with resilience at all stages of adulthood. Further research is needed to determine whether assessing and addressing resilience could inform the development of more effective dietary interventions, particularly in young adults. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 253 KiB  
Article
Differing Within-Household Food Security Statuses Are Associated with Varied Maternal Mental Health Outcomes
by Rachel A. Liebe, Chanit’a Holmes and Sarah A. Misyak
Nutrients 2024, 16(10), 1522; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16101522 - 18 May 2024
Viewed by 402
Abstract
Household food insecurity is not necessarily equally experienced by all household members, with mothers often changing their intake first when food resources are limited. The purpose of this study was to understand the association between maternal mental health and intrahousehold differences in food [...] Read more.
Household food insecurity is not necessarily equally experienced by all household members, with mothers often changing their intake first when food resources are limited. The purpose of this study was to understand the association between maternal mental health and intrahousehold differences in food security statuses. A cross-sectional survey was administered to Virginia mothers with low income (August–October 2021), assessing validated measures of food security, mental and physical health and related factors. Participants (n = 570) were grouped according to the food security status of adults and children within the household. Linear regression was used to assess the outcomes of interest by group and controlled for key demographic variables. Mothers in households with any food insecurity reported worse overall mental health and used 3–4 more food coping strategies than households experiencing food security (p < 0.05). Only mothers in households where adults experienced food insecurity reported significantly greater anxiety and depressive symptoms (61.5 and 58.1, respectively) compared to households experiencing food security (55.7 and 52.4, p < 0.001). While any experience of household food insecurity is associated with worse maternal mental health, there were differences by the within-household food security status. Future research should explore screening measures that capture specific household members’ food security to connect households with available resources. Full article
11 pages, 272 KiB  
Article
Comparison between Physical Activity and Stress-Related Lifestyle between Orthorexic and Non-Orthorexic University Students: A Case–Control Study
by Sara Guidotti, Alice Fiduccia, Michele Murgolo and Carlo Pruneti
Nutrients 2024, 16(9), 1340; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16091340 - 29 Apr 2024
Viewed by 709
Abstract
(1) Background: The literature regarding orthorexia nervosa (ON) has well documented the association with other mental disorders, such as obsessive–compulsive and eating disorders. However, the research has not taken into account stress-related behavior and the conduction of physical activity (PA), both structured and [...] Read more.
(1) Background: The literature regarding orthorexia nervosa (ON) has well documented the association with other mental disorders, such as obsessive–compulsive and eating disorders. However, the research has not taken into account stress-related behavior and the conduction of physical activity (PA), both structured and unstructured. (2) Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 165 students of the University of Parma (92 females and 74 males) aged between 18 and 49 years old (mean = 24.62 ± 4.81) were consecutively recruited. The ORTO-15 questionnaire was used to divide the total sample into a group without orthorexia (score > 40) and a group with orthorexia (score < 40). All subjects completed the P Stress Questionnaire, and specific items were extrapolated from the Eating Habits Structured Interview (EHSI) to investigate lifestyle, including structured and unstructured PA. (3) Results: Subjects with orthorexia represented 83% of the total sample and reported higher levels of stress-related risk behaviors (i.e., sense of responsibility (t = −1.99, p = 0.02), precision (t = −1.99, p = 0.03), stress disorders (t = −1.38, p = 0.05), reduced spare time (t = −1.97, p = 0.03), and hyperactivity (t = −1.68, p = 0.04)) and a higher frequency of PA (i.e., hours spent training in structured PA, daily (t = −1.68, p = 0.05), weekly (t = −1.91, p = 0.03), and monthly (t = −1.91, p = 0.03), the tendency to carry out physical exercise even if tired (t = −1.97, p = 0.02), and to adhere to unstructured PA (i.e., moving on foot or by bike rather than using transport (t = 1.27, p = 0.04)). (4) Conclusions: The results confirmed the presence of hyperactivity at a motor and behavioral level in people with orthorexia. Further studies are necessary to highlight the causality between ON, stress, and physical activity but it may be possible to hypothesize that “obsessive” physical exercise may not generate the benefits generally known by the literature. Full article
19 pages, 5885 KiB  
Article
Gastrointestinal Microbiota & Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety in Anorexia Nervosa—A Re-Analysis of the MICROBIAN Longitudinal Study
by Jasmin Ketel, Miquel Bosch-Bruguera, Greta Auchter, Ulrich Cuntz, Stephan Zipfel, Paul Enck and Isabelle Mack
Nutrients 2024, 16(6), 891; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16060891 - 19 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1251
Abstract
The microbiota–gut–brain axis may play a role in the pathophysiology of anorexia nervosa (AN). Here, the relationship between the gastrointestinal microbiota and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and eating disorder pathology in patients with AN before (n = 55) and after weight restoration [...] Read more.
The microbiota–gut–brain axis may play a role in the pathophysiology of anorexia nervosa (AN). Here, the relationship between the gastrointestinal microbiota and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and eating disorder pathology in patients with AN before (n = 55) and after weight restoration (n = 44) was investigated by reanalyzing the data of the MICROBIAN study. The gastrointestinal microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Symptoms of anxiety disorder, depression, and the severity of the eating disorder were measured by validated questionnaires. All analyses were adjusted for the body mass index (BMI). Several significant findings between psychological parameters and the gastrointestinal microbiota were not evident after controlling for the BMI. No differences in alpha and beta diversity between groups of higher and lower symptom severity levels for depression and anxiety were found. Positive associations between species of Blautia and Ruminococcus and depression symptoms, and between the phylum Firmicutes and anxiety symptoms were observed after rehabilitation, respectively. A positive correlation was found between propionate and acetate levels and the reduction of depression severity during inpatient treatment. Accounting for the weight status when analyzing the relationship between psychological parameters and the gastrointestinal microbiota in patients with underweight is important since the BMI may be the driver for many observed changes. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

18 pages, 1276 KiB  
Review
Influence of Metabolic Dysregulation in the Management of Depressive Disorder—Narrative Review
by Paulina Jakubowska, Marta Balcerczyk-Lis, Milena Fortuna, Aleksandra Janiak, Adrianna Kopaczyńska, Sylwia Skwira, Ewelina Młynarska, Jacek Rysz and Beata Franczyk
Nutrients 2024, 16(11), 1665; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16111665 - 29 May 2024
Viewed by 180
Abstract
Depressive disorders are heterogeneous in nature, and their global reach makes them the cause of suffering for a million individuals worldwide. Standard treatment does not work for one in three people, and side effects can significantly reduce the quality of life. A multidisciplinary [...] Read more.
Depressive disorders are heterogeneous in nature, and their global reach makes them the cause of suffering for a million individuals worldwide. Standard treatment does not work for one in three people, and side effects can significantly reduce the quality of life. A multidisciplinary approach allows for a broader insight into the nature of the disease, given its complex etiology. One of its elements is the hypothesis of inflammation, which also accompanies obesity-related disease. Obesity and depression interact, causing many researchers to develop new non-pharmacological treatment methods for both diseases. One suggestion is physical exercises that have great potential to be used in clinical practice. They can exert changes on the central nervous system and thus modulate mood. Another is diet, which concentrates on active molecules that also affect the central nervous system (CNS). There is an urgent need to create appropriate criteria and recommendations that systematize existing knowledge and allow it to be used in practice. There is an urgent need to create appropriate criteria and recommendations that systematize existing knowledge and allow it to be used in practice. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop