Eating habits, physical activity and nutritional status in patients with depression

Depression, mood and stress in individuals affects the amount and type of food eaten, which is reflected in the nutritional status and may aggravate the clinical depression. For the practical exercise, studies show that it is beneficial for physical and mental health. We conducted a cross-sectional study, descriptive and correlational, evaluating the relationship between depression, anxiety and stress, eating habits, physical activity and nutritional status in a sample of 26 women and 3 men, aged 55 9 years of a Portuguese Psychiatric Hospital. It was used a questionnaire with anthropometric data, food frequency questionnaire, physical activity questionnaire adapted IPAQ 8 EADS and scale of 21 items to assess those affected. The subjects had a BMI of 29 kg/m2 6. 86% of the sample showed risk of cardiovascular or metabolic disease and 14% did not present. The protein intake was 21 3%, fat 29 5% and 50 6% carbohydrate. 72.4% of subjects had insufficient caloric intake and the others showed an excessive one. 55.2% had moderate physical activity, 27.6% intense and 17.2% light. The correlation between food intake with affectives showed that: higher levels of stress and anxiety were related to lower intake of fruits like plum queen, cherry, clementine, orange and kiwi; higher levels of stress or depression or anxiety were related to ingestion of apple, pear and peach; higher levels of anxiety were related to lower intake of tomatoes and protein; higher levels of depression were related to less white meat intake. These results may show that an inadequate intake of protein and fruits rich in carbohydrate important to regulate the levels of serotonin are possibly contributing to the symptoms of depression and lower consumption of white meat rich in monounsaturated fat important in weight control may be contributing for the increase in BMI