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Peer-reviewedCC BYScientific Reports

The bidirectional association between highly processed food consumption and major depressive disorder among adults in Spain

  • Íngrid Gete-Alejandro1
  • Joan Domènech-Abella2
  • Josep Maria Haro1
  • Marta Miret3
  • José Luis Ayuso Mateos3
  • Jesús Godino-Cruz4
  • Elvira Lara3
  • Cristina Domènech5
5 affiliations
  1. 1Departament de Medicina, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona (UB)
  2. 2Department of Sociology, Universitat de Barcelona (UB)
  3. 3Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental. CIBERSAM
  4. 4Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa (IIS-Princesa)
  5. 5Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IRSJD)
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Abstract

Highly processed food (HPF) consumption has been linked with an increased risk of depression. However, the role of major depressive disorder (MDD) as a potential risk factor for higher HPF consumption remains largely unexplored. This study aims to examine the bidirectional association between HPF consumption and MDD. We analyzed cross-sectional data from a representative sample of 1,380 non-institutionalized adults from Spain surveyed in 2023–2024. HPF intake was assessed using the short-form Questionnaire of Highly Processed Food Consumption (sQ-HPF). MDD during the previous 12 months was assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). Adjusted regression models were constructed to evaluate factors related to MDD and high HPF consumption. Compared to participants in the lowest HPF consumption tertile, those in the medium tertile showed a non-significant trend toward greater odds of 12-month MDD (OR = 2.64; 95% CI: 0.79–8.84; p = 0.115), while those in the highest tertile had significantly increased odds (OR = 8.03; 95% CI: 2.95–21.82; p < 0.001). In the reverse model, participants with 12-month MDD had 4.83 times greater odds of belonging to a higher HPF consumption tertile (OR = 4.83; 95% CI: 2.10–11.12; p < 0.001). Our findings suggest a bidirectional association between HPF consumption and MDD. Individuals with higher HPF intake are more likely to experience MDD, and those with MDD tend to report greater HPF consumption. These results underscore the need for integrated prevention strategies addressing both nutritional behavior and mental health.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{getealejandro2026bidirectional,
  title = {{The bidirectional association between highly processed food consumption and major depressive disorder among adults in Spain}},
  author = {Íngrid Gete-Alejandro and Joan Domènech-Abella and Josep Maria Haro and Marta Miret and José Luis Ayuso Mateos and Jesús Godino-Cruz and Elvira Lara and Cristina Domènech},
  journal = {Scientific Reports},
  year = {2026},
  month = jul,
  doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-62769-9},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-62769-9},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - The bidirectional association between highly processed food consumption and major depressive disorder among adults in Spain
AU  - Íngrid Gete-Alejandro
AU  - Joan Domènech-Abella
AU  - Josep Maria Haro
AU  - Marta Miret
AU  - José Luis Ayuso Mateos
AU  - Jesús Godino-Cruz
AU  - Elvira Lara
AU  - Cristina Domènech
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/07/01
JO  - Scientific Reports
DO  - 10.1038/s41598-026-62769-9
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-62769-9
AB  - Highly processed food (HPF) consumption has been linked with an increased risk of depression. However, the role of major depressive disorder (MDD) as a potential risk factor for higher HPF consumption remains largely unexplored. This study aims to examine the bidirectional association between HPF consumption and MDD. We analyzed cross-sectional data from a representative sample of 1,380 non-institutionalized adults from Spain surveyed in 2023–2024. HPF intake was assessed using the short-form Questionnaire of Highly Processed Food Consumption (sQ-HPF). MDD during the previous 12 months was assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). Adjusted regression models were constructed to evaluate factors related to MDD and high HPF consumption. Compared to participants in the lowest HPF consumption tertile, those in the medium tertile showed a non-significant trend toward greater odds of 12-month MDD (OR = 2.64; 95% CI: 0.79–8.84; p = 0.115), while those in the highest tertile had significantly increased odds (OR = 8.03; 95% CI: 2.95–21.82; p < 0.001). In the reverse model, participants with 12-month MDD had 4.83 times greater odds of belonging to a higher HPF consumption tertile (OR = 4.83; 95% CI: 2.10–11.12; p < 0.001). Our findings suggest a bidirectional association between HPF consumption and MDD. Individuals with higher HPF intake are more likely to experience MDD, and those with MDD tend to report greater HPF consumption. These results underscore the need for integrated prevention strategies addressing both nutritional behavior and mental health.
SN  - 2045-2322
ER  -