Fast Food Depression Study

We’ve all driven through our local fast food joint from time to time, especially on those late nights when we’re just too tired to cook dinner. Sounds pretty harmless, right? Think again.

According to a study published in the Biological Psychiatry Journal and conducted by researchers at Louisiana State University, those with a diet consisting of mostly high-fat foods had an increased risk for depression and other psychiatric disorders.

Eating too many fatty foods can lead to obesity, which can have a huge effect on the way your gut microbiota – a fancy term for the bacteria in your gut – functions from day to day. It’s important to point out that the study involved mice rather than humans.

Now, for the study itself: Non-obese, adult male mice were fed a regular diet but injected with bacteria from mice that were fed fatty foods.

What happened next?

The mice that were injected with the gut microbiome had higher anxiety levels and showed signs of dementia and repetitive behavior.

Although this study didn’t involve humans, researchers were able to confirm that the regular consumption of fatty foods, even if it isn’t long-term, could still make us more susceptible to mental illness.

So, you may want to think long and hard before scarfing down that burger and fries next time. Remember: everything in moderation.