Key result
Low vegetable intake linked to ~15% higher odds of poor mental health.
Why the study?
Mental well-being is an overlooked component of cardiometabolic health, and evidence linking dietary habits to psychological outcomes among high-risk populations in Central and Eastern Europe remains limited.
Cross-Sectional (n=2,785)
Odds Ratio: 1.15
Healthier dietary behaviors, including higher consumption of vegetables, fruits, fish, and adequate hydration, are associated with better mental well-being in adults with cardiometabolic risk.
Dietary patterns may link to mental well-being in diabetes; leaves open causality and practice change pending prospective trials.
Background: Mental well-being is an important yet often overlooked component of cardiometabolic health. Dietary habits may influence psychological outcomes, but evidence among high-risk populations in Central and Eastern Europe remains limited. This study investigated the association between dietary behaviors and mental well-being among adults with cardiometabolic risk in Hungary. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS) 2019. The study included 2785 adults with cardiometabolic high risk (obesity, hypertension, or hypercholesterolemia). Mental well-being was assessed using the WHO-5 Well-Being Index and categorized as poor (≤50) or better (>50). Dietary habits, sociodemographic factors, and lifestyle factors were analyzed. Weighted multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Overall, 25.9% of participants had poor mental health. In multivariable analyses, low intake of vegetables (OR = 1.15), fruits (OR = 1.55), fruit juice (OR = 1.26), and fish (OR = 1.17), as well as inadequate water intake (OR = 1.38), were each independently associated with higher odds of poor mental health after adjustment for sex, education, income levels, self-perceived health status, physical activity, and alcohol consumption. Conclusions: Healthier dietary behaviors, particularly higher consumption of vegetables, fish, and adequate hydration, are associated with better mental well-being among individuals with cardiometabolic risk. These results underscore the need for comprehensive intervention strategies that simultaneously address physical health and psychological well-being among vulnerable populations.
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Ulambayar et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Cardiometabolic high risk (obesity, hypertension, or hypercholesterolemia) (n=2,785). Low intake of vegetables vs. Adequate intake was evaluated on Poor mental health (WHO-5 Well-Being Index ≤50) (OR 1.15). Low intake of vegetables (OR 1.15), fruits (OR 1.55), fruit juice (OR 1.26), fish (OR 1.17), and inadequate water (OR 1.38) were independently associated with higher odds of poor mental health.
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