A new study has found that following a low-calorie diet could increase the risk of developing symptoms of depression.
The researchers found that the effects of calorie restriction on mood were more pronounced in men and overweight people.
These findings stand in contrast to previous studies which claim low-calorie diets improve depressive symptoms.
However, the researchers noted that prior trials included tailored and balanced diet programmes that may not be the same as what people realistically follow in everyday life.
For the study, published in BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health, researchers in Canada used data from the 28,525 people who took part in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and had completed a health questionnaire relating to depressive symptoms, which gave them a score based on severity.
