The association between leftover food consumption and depression among older adults: Findings from a cross-sectional...

Leftover food consumption is very prevalent among the Chinese older adults, however, the potential effects of leftover eating consumption on depression have not yet been investigated.

The study aims to determine the association between leftover consumption on depression among older adults.

Data of leftover consumption frequency was collected in a cross-sectional study with a provincial representative sample of 5992 older adults (aged 60 or older) in 2019. Depression symptoms were assessed by the 9-item screener Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Multiple logistic regression models were applied to analyze the association of the frequency of leftover eating consumption and the presence and the severity of depression.

After controlling for all the covariates, the participants who consume leftover food everyday had higher risk of having depression symptom comparing to those who had the lowest frequency of leftover eating (OR: 1.675, 95% CI: 1.435-1.956, p < 0.001). The participants who consume leftover food every day was also associated with more severe depression symptoms (OR: 1.621, 95% CI: 1.397-1.881, p < 0.001), when comparing to the reference group. The associations seemed stronger in men than women.

The causal relationship between leftover consumption behavior and depression could not be determined due to the cross-sectional design. Moreover, the variety or handling method of the leftover food was not specified.

Leftovers eating frequency was associated with the presence and severity of depression symptoms among older adults.