Low-Calorie Diet Linked to Depression, Nutritionist Shares Insights

Does Low Low-Calorie Diet Affect Mood and Emotions Negatively?

As food gives us energy, low-calorie and restricted diets can impact a person’s mood negatively. This has more impact on obese people and men, according to the BMJ study. 

According to Joshi, diets can cause drastic negative mood swings, leading to depressive symptoms. “Yes, prolonged and low-calorie restriction diet can harm mood and emotions, leading to increased irritability, fatigue, anxiety, and even depressive symptoms. Moreover, it can cause anger due to fluctuations in blood sugar levels and severe hunger pangs,” she said.

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Can a Low-Calorie Diet Trigger a Pre-existing Mental Health Condition?

Low-calorie diets often mean staying on very low carbs and fats, leading to a specific type of food. While necessary sometimes, a continuous low-calorie diet can lead to starvation, which can trigger sadness in people with existing disorders, especially those with eating disorders.

As per Joshi, “A really low-calorie diet can increase existing anxiety in certain individuals. Moreover, an extreme calorie-deficient diet can lead to stress, mood changes, and trigger stress hormones, ultimately contributing to anxiety and restlessness. So, when looking to lose weight, it is important to remember that starvation does no good. Although it is advisable to opt to eat a balanced meal, focusing on portion control.”

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Why Does a Low-Calorie Diet Cause Depression?

Food is a necessity, and we all live to eat our favourite foods. While these are not always the healthiest choices, it does help us to feel better by eating our favourite foods after a bad, exhausting and overwhelming day. However, this expectation is met with disappointment, especially when we can’t eat because of ‘calorie restrictions’. This type of emotional stress from starvation can often lead to feelings of despair, anger and extreme irritation.

Talking about the negative impact of low-calorie diet, Joshi explained, “Strict adherence to diets or ‘dieting’ can do a lot of damage.

• It can trigger feelings of deprivation, sadness, and constant cravings, leading to sadness.
• It can induce overeating, resulting in guilt and unhealthy relationships with food.
• Prolonged caloric restriction can lead to nutritional deficiencies that can impair cognitive function and alter hormone levels, directly influencing mood.
• Inadequate nutrition can also disrupt emotional balance, leading to negative emotions. 

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What Effect Does a Low-Calorie Diet Have on the Brain?

Low-calorie diet often means avoiding carbohydrates (glucose) or fats (omega-3s), which may theoretically worsen brain function and exacerbate cognitive-affective symptoms, especially in men with greater nutritional needs, as per a BMJ study.

An Extremely Low-Calorie Diet can cause: 

• Reduced Attention and Concentration: Extended restrictive diets can result in low levels of protein, iron, and vitamin D, leading to poor concentration and lack of energy throughout the day.
• Impaired Learning and Memory: Food gives our brain the proper nutrients required to process information and while the food is low in fats, carbs and proteins, it can lead to low power to retain knowledge.

Can ‘clean eating’ or Calorie Control Mask Underlying Mental Health Issues?

Clean eating and extreme calorie control are two different things. When someone consistently consumes far fewer calories than their body requires for maintenance, they experience an extreme calorie deficit, which can result in rapid weight loss, but this approach is often unsustainable and can have negative physical and mental health effects,” advised therapeutic nutritionist Joshi.

Conclusion: Support, Not Restrict

Research increasingly suggests a strong link between diet and mental illness, with evidence indicating that nutritional improvements can directly influence mental health symptoms and overall mental well-being.

“The connection between body and mind is undeniable, and your diet encompasses not only the food you consume but also how you eat and its impact on your mental health. Screening and support will help people develop a good relationship with food and combat eating disorders,” added Joshi.

Don’t get scared of food, eat good, feel good, and take care of yourself!