Impacts of nutrition counseling on depression and obesity: A scoping review

Abstract

SummaryThis scoping review aims to evaluate the impact of nutrition counseling on mental health and wellbeing among people affected by obesity. Depression and obesity are major sources of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The prevalence of obesity is higher in patients with severe or suboptimally managed depression. Change in dietary quality prompted by nutrition counseling may pose a unique opportunity for intervention. Of the 1745 studies identified, 26 studies (total n = 6727) met inclusion criteria. Due to the heterogeneity of methods and outcome reporting, it was not possible to perform meta‐analysis. Across all included studies, 34 different scales were used to quantify mental health/wellbeing. Eleven studies (42.3%) reported statistically significant findings between intervention and control groups. Only two of these studies assessed nutrition counseling independently rather than as part of a multidisciplinary intervention. Overall, many studies have examined the role of nutrition counseling on mental health/wellbeing in individuals affected by obesity. However, due to inconsistency in study methodologies and outcome measurement tools, it is challenging to draw robust or clinically meaningful conclusions about the effects of nutrition counseling on mental health in this population.