Customization of Diet May Promote Exercise and Improve Mental Wellbeing in Mature Adults: The Role of Exercise as a Mediator

Abstract

Diet, dietary practices and exercise are modifiable risk factors for individuals living with mental distress. However, these relationships are intricate and multilayered in such a way that individual factors may influence mental health differently when combined within a pattern. Additionally, two important factors that need to be considered are gender and level of brain maturity. Therefore, it is essential to assess these modifiable risk factors based on gender and age group. The purpose of the study was to explore the combined and individual relationships between food groups, dietary practices and exercise to appreciate their association with mental distress in mature men and women. Adults 30 years and older were invited to complete the food–mood questionnaire. The anonymous questionnaire link was circulated on several social media platforms. A multi-analyses approach was used. A combination of data mining techniques, namely, a mediation regression analysis, the K-means clustering and principal component analysis as well as Spearman’s rank–order correlation were used to explore these research questions. The results suggest that women’s mental health has a higher association with dietary factors than men. Mental distress and exercise frequency were associated with different dietary and lifestyle patterns, which support the concept of customizing diet and lifestyle factors to improve mental wellbeing.

The Impact of the Different Stages of COVID-19, Time of the Week and Exercise Frequency on Mental Distress in Men and Women

“…Different physical exercise frequencies are associated with mental distress among men and women before and during the periods of the pandemic, which is a potential proof of concept that customization of physical exercise frequency recommendations is necessary for improving mental wellbeing of men and women. This finding is in line with a previously published report that suggested that customization of dietary and lifestyle factors may be needed to improve mental wellbeing among these cohorts [6]. The lowest probabilities of experiencing mental distress among men and women during the pandemic resulted in differential patterns of physical exercise frequencies.…”

“…The benefit of physical exercise on mental health may be through its mediation effect on food. By changing physiological settings, physical exercise might enhance the beneficial effect of nutrient-dense food and reduce the negative impact of low-quality food [6,29].…”

“…However, physical exercise and a good quality diet typically go together. In addition, physical exercise mediates the effect of food on mental health by enhancing the positive effect of nutrients and reducing the negative effect of low-quality food [6]. Several nutrients were described to support brain functions.…”

Bioactive Compounds for Customized Brain Health: What Are We and Where Should We Be Heading?

“…Women are more likely to require a spectrum of nutrient-dense food to achieve mental well-being than men [19], presumably due to the denser connectivity between brain regions [7]. In addition, women's mood appears to be more sensitive to high-glycemic index food and caffeine when compared to men [25]. This could be explained by the different endocrine physiological processes between men and women.…”

“…Most studies combined findings from both men and women and reported an association between diet quality, such as a plant-forward diet, and mental functions. However, studies that investigated the diet based on gender reported differential effects [13,19,25,41]. For instance, a plant-based diet may be more beneficial to women's mood than men's.…”