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MooDFOODs results hold important implications for policy makers and valuable support for existing nutrition and non-communicable disease policy agendas. After pooling the field of evidence on the role of food in the prevention of depression it was found that following a healthy dietary pattern can reduce depressive symptoms and risk of depression. For people with obesity, weight loss can also reduce depressive symptoms.

While currently national level nutrition initiatives promote the physical benefits of healthy eating and bodyweight, these findings provide the scientific backing to promote mental health as an additional benefit. This creates a new motivation for the public to strive towards a healthy dietary pattern and supports nutrition, mental health and non-communicable disease policy initiatives.

It also supports moves to incorporate mental health in NCD policy agendas by showing the potential of healthy diets in the prevention of all NCDs.

See our Policy brief and Policy Fact Sheet for more information.