Meal Habits, Body Fat Composition and Mood Status in Young Adults

Abstract

Abstract Objectives To examine the association between meal habits (i.e., eating breakfast every day, usually ≥80% fullness at breakfast, and not eating snacks at night), body composition and the subsequent changes in mood status in young adults. Methods This is a longitudinal follow-up study based on a randomized trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03828812). Young adults were recruited based in a university campus in Taipei City, Taiwan. In total, 125 participants were recruited and 103 completed the follow-ups. Measured body composition (TANITA BC-418) and moods (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, DASS) were assessed at baseline, the third month and 15th month from baseline. Baseline meal habits were based on the participants’ recall of their diets in the month before interview. We used mixed-effect model to test the association of baseline total body fat percentage and trunk body fat percentage and moods during follow-ups, adjusting for age, sex, baseline body mass index (BMI), food security status. Results After controlling for sex, age, BMI, and food security status at baseline, having breakfast every day at baseline was associated with 2.04 (se = 0.78, P = 0.0098) lower anxiety score and with 2.58 (se = 1.26, P = 0.0409) lower stress score at baseline. Meal habits were not associated with the subsequent changes in mood status. As for body composition, one % of trunk body fat replacing one % of non-trunk body fat at baseline was associated with 1.19 (se = 0.57, P = 0.0381) higher depression score, 1.02 (se = 0.47, P = 0.0327) higher anxiety score, 2.06 (se = 0.76, P = 0.0075) higher anxiety score at baseline. One % of non-trunk body fat percentage was associated with 2.60 (se = 1.02, P = 0.0116) lower anxiety score, as trunk body fat % is controlled. Baseline body fat composition parameters were not associated with the temporal changes in mood scores. The significance patterns were similar after adjusting for baseline physical activity level, assessed by International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Conclusions Breakfast habits and body composition, especially trunk body fat, was associated with university-based young adults’ emotional health status. Funding Sources Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan.