A new study has found an association between having a preference for sugary and processed foods and having depression. Which issue causes the other, however, is unclear.

Published in the Journal of Translational Medicine this October, the study looked at how people’s taste preferences impact their dietary patterns and health outcomes.

Navratilova HF, Whetton AD, Geifman N. Artificial intelligence driven definition of food preference endotypes in UK Biobank volunteers is associated with distinctive health outcomes and blood based metabolomic and proteomic profiles. Journal of Translational Medicine. 2024;22:881.

The results revealed that people with a sweet tooth (defined as people with a high preference for sweet foods and sweetened beverages) had greater risk of depression, diabetes, and stroke.

Comparison groups included omnivorous (defined as people who had a high preference for all foods) and people who were health-conscious (defined as people who had a high preference for vegetables and fruits and a low preference for meat, sweets, and fatty foods). The researchers used a questionnaire to determine people’s taste preferences and assign them to a preference group.

Lisa Jones, a dietitian based in Philadelphia, says that she often sees “a clear connection between food choices and mental health,” including a link between feelings of anxiety and depression and sugary diets. 

“This study reinforces what I see in practice: Food choices and health are deeply connected,” Jones says. “Diets high in processed foods, sugar, and unhealthy fats tend to increase feelings of anxiety and depression. On the flip side, nutrient-dense foods like fruits, vegetables, and omega-3 rich fish support better mental well-being.”

“When clients struggle with depression or anxiety, they often turn to comfort foods—think sugary snacks and fast food—which can worsen their mood,” Jones says. “It becomes a cycle where poor mental health leads to poor food choices, and vice versa.”

Because these issues can feed into each other, it is important for doctors and dietitians to work together to treat patients’ mental and dietary health and to not assume that working on one will automatically fix the other. 

When working with a client who is battling a combination of dietary and mental health challenges, Jones says that she helps the person “focus on balanced, nutrient-rich diets that promote mental and physical health, while also guiding them to recognize the emotional triggers behind their food choices.”