Association Between Joint Physical Activity and Dietary Quality and Lower Risk of Depression Symptoms in US Adults: Cross-sectional NHANES Study

Abstract

Background Depression escalating public health concern and the modest efficacy of currently available treatments have prompted efforts to identify modifiable risk factors associated with depression symptoms. Physical inactivity, poor nutrition, or other lifestyle behaviors are among the potentially modifiable risk factors most consistently linked with depression. Past evidence regarding the single effect of physical activity (PA) or dietary quality (DQ) on reducing the risk of depression symptoms has been well-documented. However, the association of the joint effect of PA and DQ on depression symptoms has never been investigated in a representative sample of adults. Objective This study investigates the association between PA and depression symptoms and between DQ and depression symptoms, and their combined effects on US adults. Methods Data were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007 to 2018 cycles. The primary exposures were DQ and PA, measured using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015 and the metabolic equivalent (MET) minutes per week reported in questionnaires, respectively. Depression symptoms were defined as a 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) score of ≥10. We created 4 lifestyle categories: healthy diet and active individuals, unhealthy diet but active individuals, healthy diet but inactive individuals, and unhealthy diet and inactive individuals. Participants were considered to have a healthy diet if they fell within the 60th percentile of the HEI-2015 or to be active if they met the current guidelines for PA. A survey-multivariable logistic regression approach was used to model adjust the variables relevant to the associations, and an age-adjusted prevalence for depression symptoms was calculated following the NHANES guidelines. Results In total, 19,295 participants represented a weighted number of 932.5 million adults aged 20 to 80 years in the noninstitutionalized US population. The total age-adjusted prevalence of depression symptoms among all respondents was 7.08% (1507/19,295). Of the respondents, 81.97% (15,816/19,295) met the PA recommendation and 26.79% (5170/19,295) scored at or above the 60th percentile on the HEI-2015. Depression symptoms were inversely associated with a higher level of PA (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.819, 95% CI 0.716-0.938) and healthy DQ (AOR 0.809, 95% CI 0.701-0.931), respectively. A healthy diet combined with recommended PA was associated with a significantly lower risk of depression symptoms (AOR 0.658, 95% CI 0.538-0.803) than those who consumed an unhealthy diet but were physically active (AOR 0.890, 95% CI 0.765-1.038) or consumed a healthy diet but were physically inactive (AOR 1.077, 95% CI 0.817-1.406). Conclusions Our findings indicate that people with a healthy diet and recommended PA have a lower risk of depression symptoms than those with an unhealthy diet and a low level of PA. A healthy dietary habit and regular PA are potential precautions against depression.

Association between healthy eating and depression symptoms among Chinese older adults: A cross-sectional study based on the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity survey

“…We also noted that the lack of statistical-level associations between the first quartile of HEI and depressive symptoms may be explained by insufficient covariates adjusted for, and an important factor is physical activity, which has been shown to be strongly associated with the risk of depression ( Laird et al, 2023 ). Interestingly, Liang et al ( Liang et al, 2023 , Liang et al, 2023 ) analyzed the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and found that the combination of a healthy diet and sufficient physical activity has an additive interactive effect on the improvement of depressive symptoms in adults. Here, a hypothesis can be put forward whether such a superimposed effect also exists in the elderly population.…”

The association between urinary incontinence and suicidal ideation: Findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

“…Physical activity referred to the time spent on activities such as walking, biking, work, and recreational activities during the week [ 32 , 33 ]. Hypertension was ascertained through the presence of a mean systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg, self-reported diagnosis, or the utilization of antihypertensive medication.…”

“…Hypertension was ascertained through the presence of a mean systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg, self-reported diagnosis, or the utilization of antihypertensive medication. Diabetes status was identified based on criteria that encompassed a doctor’s diagnosis, glycohemoglobin (HbA1c) levels ≥ 6.5%, fasting glucose levels ≥ 7.0 mmol/L, random/two-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) blood glucose levels ≥ 11.1 mmol/L, or the use of diabetes medication/insulin [ 30 , 32 , 33 ].…”

Association between joint physical activity and healthy dietary patterns and hypertension in US adults: cross-sectional NHANES study

“…According to previous studies [ 33 , 34 ], we created four lifestyle categories based on the HEI-2015 and PA: (1) unhealthy diet and physically inactive, (2) healthy diet but physically inactive, (3) unhealthy diet but physically active, (4) healthy diet and physically active.…”