Meal and Mind: How Dietary Pattern Influences Mental Health among Undergraduate Students in Central India

Abstract Background: Unhealthy eating habits are a significant public health concern among young adults who made the transition into college life. Unhealthy food is identified as one of the possible causes of poor mental health. This study aims to investigate the relationship between dietary habits on mental health among undergraduate students in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 undergraduate students, aged above 18 years, studying arts and commerce subjects in the selected colleges in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect the demographic details. The dietary pattern was measured using a food frequency questionnaire, and the mental health status was measured by a general health questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was done to identify the factors associated with the outcome variable. Results: Out of the 300 study participants, more than half 173 (57.67%) study participants had normal mental health scores, and 127 (42.33%) experienced mental distress. In the dietary patterns, only one-third of 118 (39.33%) study participants followed a healthy diet, whereas the remaining 182 (60.67%) participants had an unhealthy diet. A moderate negative correlation was observed between the dietary pattern and mental health ( r =-0.3183, P =0.000*). The unhealthy dietary pattern is a significant predictor for mental health distress (odds ratio [OR] =6.97, P < 0.01) and it shows the higher economic status (middle economic class OR = 0.34, P < 0.01; high-income class OR = 0.09, P < 0.01) and those who eat mixed foot items (OR = 0.29, P < 0.05) have less chance for mental health distress. Conclusion: There is a need to raise awareness about healthy eating for better mental health among students. It also makes recommendations for future nutrition interventions by providing nutrition education, accessing to healthy food inside the college campus, and providing counseling or peer support to encourage healthy eating habits.