Dietary habits and psychological disorders in a large sample of Iranian adults: a population-based study

BACKGROUND: Since an association has been found between diet and psychological problems, this study aimed to evaluate the relationship between dietary habits and psychological problems among Iranian adults. METHODS: Data on dietary habits and psychological problems among 9965 adults were provided from the recruitment phase of Yazd Health Study, a population-based cohort research on Iranian adults. The association between dietary habits and psychological problems was assessed by multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: After the adjustment for confounders, fast food and fried food consumptions were associated with increased depressive [odds ratio (OR) = 1.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.18–2.20] and stress symptoms (OR = 2.47, 95% CI 1.46–4.18), respectively. Eating breakfast had a protective role on stress features (OR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.39–0.92), while snack intake was related to higher odds of depressive (OR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.01–1.84), anxiety (OR = 1.99, 95% CI 1.55–2.56) and stress symptoms (OR = 1.73, 95% CI 1.23–2.54). There was also an inverse association between sweetened drink consumption and depressive (OR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.59–0.96), anxiety (OR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.62–0.93), and stress features (OR = 0.73, 95% CI 0.55–0.97; OR = 0.63, 95% CI 0.48–0.82). CONCLUSIONS: Even though an inverse relationship was found between sweetened drinks intake and psychological problems, snack consumption was associated with higher chances of them. Eating breakfast had a protective effect on stress symptoms, while fast food and fried food intakes were related to increased depressive and stress features chances, respectively.