Depression and Diet Quality, US Adolescents and Young Adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey,...

Depression is a common mental health disorder.

The objective of this study was to explore the association between diet quality, as measured by the Healthy Eating Index 2020 (HEI-2020), and depression symptoms among US adolescents and young adults aged 12 to 29 years.

The study design was a cross-sectional secondary data analysis.

Data from the first 24-hour dietary recall for adolescents and young adults aged 12 to 29 years in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2015 to March 2020 (n = 4750) were analyzed.

Depression was defined as a score ≥10 on the Patient Health Questionnaire, reflecting moderate or severe symptoms in the previous 2 weeks.

HEI-2020 total (range, 0-100) and component scores were calculated for those with and without depression. Predicted HEI-2020 scores were estimated from linear regression models, adjusting for age, gender, race and Hispanic origin, family income, and seeing a mental health professional in the past year. Statistical analyses accounted for the complex sample design.

The prevalence of depression among adolescents and young adults was 7.8% (95% CI 6.3% to 9.5%). Total HEI-2020 score was 45.9 (95% CI 45.0 to 46.7) out of 100 on a given day during 2015 to March 2020. Among young people with depression, total HEI-2020 score was lower than among those without depression (41.7 vs 46.2; P < .001). After adjustment for covariates, the difference was attenuated, but remained significant. In adjusted analyses, HEI-2020 component scores were lower for those with depression compared with those without depression for the adequacy components: total fruits (1.4 vs 1.7; P = .03), whole fruits (1.2 vs 1.7; P < .01), total vegetables (2.1 vs 2.6; P < .01), greens and beans (0.8 vs 1.2; P < .01), and total protein foods (3.6 vs 4.0; P = .02) out of a maximum score of 5. There were no statistically significant differences observed for whole grains, dairy, seafood and plant proteins, fatty acids, saturated fats, refined grains, sodium, or added sugars.

Overall diet quality is low among young people. Diet quality, especially consumption of fruits, vegetables, and protein foods was lower among young people with depression compared with those without depression.