Many people choose a low-calorie diet to lose weight or stay in shape, but limiting energy for a long time can negatively affect mental health. An overly restrictive diet not only affects the body but also affects mood, emotions and cognitive ability.
Low-calorie diet negatively affects mood and emotions
Food provides energy for the body and brain. When calorie restrictions are especially long-lasting, your mood and emotions can be seriously affected.
According to expert Sonakshi Joshi, a nutritionist and therapist (India), A calorie-restricted diet can increase irritability, fatigue, anxiety and even lead to symptoms of depression. Escaping blood sugar and feeling hungry can also contribute to anger and restlessness.
Effects on people with existing mental problems
Low-calorie diets often come with limiting carbohydrates and fat, leading to eating certain foods. This can aggravate mental health in people with eating disorders or existing anxiety. Continuous fasting can trigger stress hormones, causing mood swings, anxiety and restlessness.
Why can eating few calories lead to depression?
Expert Sonakshi Joshi said that eating is not only a physiological need but also a spiritual joy. Excessive calorie restrictions can cause feelings of deprivation, sadness, constant cravings, and lead to overeating when given the opportunity, accompanied by guilt. An extremely low-calorie diet can also:
Causes nutritional deficiencies, impaired cognitive function and affect hormones.
Breaking emotional balance leads to prolonged negative states.
Effects on the brain
Low-calorie diets often limit carbohydrates and fat, which impairs brain function, especially in men with higher nutritional needs. The consequences may include:
Decreased attention and concentration due to lack of protein, iron, vitamin D.
Decreased learning and memory capacity because the brain is not provided with enough nutrients.
Diet is not always a healthy diet
Sonakshi Joshi emphasizes that dieting does not mean eating healthy. Excessive calorie control is completely different from a balanced diet; when consuming fewer calories than the body needs, the body lacks energy, leading to rapid but unsustainable weight loss, while negatively affecting both physical and mental health.
