Fatty Food Consumption Could Increase Mental Illness Risk, Research Says

We already know that a high-fat diet will lead to obesity, heart problems, diabetes, and a host of other physical health issues, but a new study suggests that fatty food consumption is linked to our mental health as well. Research published in the Biological Psychiatry journal suggests that the more high-fat foods we eat, the more likely the composition of our gut bacteria will change. Eventually, severe changes in gut bacteria, even in the absence of obesity, will increase the risk of depression, anxiety, and other psychological disorders.

"This paper suggests that high-fat diets impair brain health, in part by disrupting the symbiotic relationship between humans and the microorganisms that occupy our gastrointestinal tracks," said John Krystal, an author of the study and professor at Yale University.

Scientists found that mice, when given high-fat diets, will also display memory problems, disruptions in normal behavior, and repetitive motions. Further research is necessary to secure these findings, scientists say, but it could lead to psychologists treating neurological disorders by analyzing our eating habits and the content of our gut bacteria.