Abstract
“Blue Zones” are geographical regions where people live to be non-agenarians and centenarians with significantly better rates of mental wellness when compared to the average American. It was discovered that these areas have nine unique evidenced-based lifestyle principles, with one of their main principles being the consumption of a plant-based diet. With this in mind, we performed a worksite intervention with the objective of understanding the relationships among Blue Zones knowledge, a plant-based lifestyle, and improvements in overall mental wellness during the COVID-19 pandemic. During spring 2021, we recruited 52 employees from a public, mid-sized university in the southwestern United States to participate in an 8-week virtual intervention that included weekly topic presentations, cooking demonstrations, and Blue Zones education. Participants were also assigned to weekly wellness counseling groups integrating Motivational Interviewing based principles that included additional, relevant conversation topics and support. The final sample (n = 52 participants) had a mean age of 45.6 ± 10.6 years. Participants were predominantly women (84.6%) and nearly half were married (44.2%). The majority attended graduate school (59.6%) and identified as White (84.6%). Paired-samples t-tests indicated significant improvements in all mental wellness outcomes and Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) scores over time (p's < 0.001 to 0.02). Multiple linear regression models revealed that Blue Zones knowledge (β = −0.037, p = 0.010) significantly negatively predicted Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scores at 8-weeks. Additionally, multiple linear regression models indicated small group attendance (β = −1.51, p = 0.003) and Blue Zones knowledge (β = −0.81, p = 0.012) significantly negatively predicted sleep scores at 8-weeks. When HEI-2015 total scores were also included at baseline and 8-weeks (post-intervention), Blue Zones knowledge (β = −0.031, p = 0.049) was a borderline significant predictor of PHQ-9 at 8-weeks. Additionally, small group sessions (β = −1.52 p = 0.005) were a significant predictor of sleep at 8-weeks. The intervention illustrated that virtual intervention strategies can improve nutrition and mental wellness for future advancement in life quality and wellbeing.
Highlights
IntroductionOne in five U.S adults live with a mental health condition, which amounts to 51.5 million people [1]
Mental health conditions in the U.S are a major public health concern
Using the nine Blue Zones principles as a basis for our pilot study, we examined the relationship between a plant-based diet and mental health and wellbeing, while incorporating the virtual lifestyle program during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
Summary
One in five U.S adults live with a mental health condition, which amounts to 51.5 million people [1]. Depression, a frequently diagnosed mental health condition, has significantly increased from 2005 to 2015 [2]. Concomitant with the rise in depression, the economic burden of major depressive conditions has increased 21.5% over the same period [3]. Those suffering from mental health conditions struggle with activities of daily living, and have negative alterations in their mood and behaviors. A mental health condition can present as emotional and physical symptoms such as depressed mood, loss of interest in things previously enjoyed, and reduced energy leading to decreased activity [4]. Mental health conditions are the leading cause of disability and mortality worldwide [4], leading to suicide, which is the tenth leading cause of death among US adults [6]
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