Study suggests eating french fries may be linked to anxiety, depression

A group of researchers based in Hangzhou, China have discovered that people who consume fried foods regularly, particularly fried potatoes, are more likely to have a 12 per cent increased risk of experiencing anxiety and a 7 per cent higher risk of depression compared to those who do not eat fried foods.

According to the research, the association between consuming fried foods and an increased risk of anxiety and depression is more evident in young men and younger individuals. Fried foods are widely known to be linked with a multitude of health problems such as obesity, high blood pressure and clogged vessels.

The study, which was published in the journal PNAS, suggests that reducing the consumption of fried foods could be significant in maintaining good mental health. However, experts in the field of nutrition cautioned that the findings are preliminary and it’s not yet clear whether fried foods are the cause of mental health issues or if people experiencing depression or anxiety tend to consume more fried foods.

In the study, which spanned 11.3 years and involved 140,728 participants, those who consumed fried foods were evaluated. After excluding individuals who were diagnosed with depression within the first two years, it was discovered that 8,294 cases of anxiety and 12,735 cases of depression were recorded among those who consumed fried food.

Additionally, the study revealed that consuming fried potatoes, specifically, increased the risk of depression by 2 per cent compared to consuming fried white meat. The research also indicated that participants who regularly consumed more than one serving of fried food were more likely to be younger men.