Key Takeaways

Low-calorie diets can increase depression symptoms

Overweight people and men were particularly vulnerable

The diets might rob the brain of needed nutrients

WEDNESDAY, June 4, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Counting calories isn’t simply a bummer, it might actually increase your risk of depression , a new study says.

People on low-calorie diets scored higher for symptoms of depression, compared with those not dieting, researchers reported June 3 in BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health .

Overweight people and men were particularly vulnerable to the mood changes that come with a low-calorie diet, results show.

“Calorie-restricted diets were associated with higher depressive symptom scores, which contrasts with the findings of earlier controlled studies,” concluded a team led

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