The association between food craving and depression in a sample of female university students: A cross-sectional study

Background: Based on existing evidence, depression may be related to certain food cravings. Since there were few studies in Iran in this regard, present survey performed to evaluate the relationship between depression and food craving. Materials and methods: The study was cross-sectional and participants were 100 female students of Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences in the year 2013 that were entered into the study by random sampling method. Depression was assessed by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) questionnaire and food craving was evaluated by Food Craving Inventory (FCI-Persian). Methods for statistical analysis include Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients. The statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS software. Results: The statistical significant correlation was not found between depression and food craving. However, depression had a significant positive correlation with jelly craving (r=0.272 and P=0.006) and significant inverse correlation with pickle craving. The correlation between food craving and BMI was not statistically significant. However, the mean BMI was associated with the cocoa chocolate craving (r=-0.288, P=0.004). Additionally, significant association was found between the days’ number after the start of menstruation and food craving to some items such as red meat, pasta and rice. Conclusion: It seems that the recommendation to consume foods with low carbohydrate and calorie content along with psychotherapy strategies to alleviate depression can maintain health in female students. In addition, pre-menstrual food cravings may be a physiological response of the body to supply of nutrients that play a role in relieving the physical and psychological symptoms of premenstrual syndrome