"Eating a Lot of Gamjatwigim Increases Risk of Depression," Chinese Study Finds

Increased Depression by 7% and Anxiety Disorder by 12% with Fried Food Intake
"Causal Pathway Not Clear" - Some Disagree with Study

A research team at a Chinese university has announced findings that French fries may negatively affect mental health, including causing depression.

On the 24th (local time), according to foreign media such as CNN, a research team in Hangzhou, China, published a paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) stating that frequent consumption of fried foods increases the risk of depression by 7% and anxiety disorders by 12% compared to those who do not eat such foods.

[Image source=Pixabay]

In particular, consuming French fries was found to increase the risk of depression by 2% more than fried white meats such as chicken. The researchers added that young men tend to consume these fried foods more frequently and in larger amounts.

The research team observed and studied 140,728 people over approximately 11 years and explained, "It is important to reduce the intake of fried foods for mental health."

In response, CNN introduced another study showing that acrylamide, a chemical produced during the frying process of potatoes, affects depression and anxiety.

Acrylamide is classified as a probable carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). It is known to be generated when carbohydrate-rich foods are cooked at high temperatures.

When zebrafish (a tropical fish from India with over 80% genetic similarity to humans) were exposed to acrylamide for a long period, their sociability decreased, and they stayed in dark places, indicating increased anxiety levels.

Seeking 'Comfort Food' When Suffering from Mental Illness... Causality Unclear

[Image source=Pixabay]

However, there are opinions that these research results have limitations.

It is unclear whether fried foods negatively affect mental health or if people with mental health-related disorders tend to consume more fried foods; the causality is not clear.

Especially, individuals with anxiety disorders or depression are more likely than others to seek "comfort food." This has led to counterarguments that such correlations may have appeared due to this behavior.

Dr. David Katz, founder of the nonprofit organization True Health Initiative, pointed out, "People suffering from anxiety or depression often seek 'comfort food' more frequently to alleviate their condition. Therefore, the causal pathway is not clear."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.