Bidirectional Link Between Eating Habits, Lifestyle, Physical Exercise and Depression and Other Mental Disorders—2nd Edition
A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition and Public Health".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 August 2025 | Viewed by 90
Special Issue Editors
Interests: nutrition; psychopathology; mental illness; mood disorders; clinical health psychology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Globally, approximately 280 million people suffer from depression and 301 million suffer from anxiety, with a prevalence of 4.4% and 3.6%, respectively (WHO, 2019). These data are even more alarming when we consider that the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically exacerbated experiences of mental illness. Depression has many causes. As a condition that affects psychophysical balance, it can be traced back to mental discomfort. However, it can also be linked to biological deficits. More specifically, deflected moods associated with marked psychopathology can lead to serious behavioral and autonomic manifestations, such as social withdrawal, apathy, asthenia, and anhedonia. Sometimes, specific medical conditions or nutritional deficiencies can generate mood alterations as secondary pathologies; for example, some nutritional deficiencies related to the poor absorption or intake of specific micronutrients (such as vitamins in group B and D) can mimic a depressive episode, manifesting as deficits in concentration and other cognitive symptoms.
In many cases, intakes of specific nutrients and micronutrients can be fundamental, especially if the primary alterations are biological and autonomic. In other cases, an optimal lifestyle can assist traditional therapies or replace them in critical periods (adolescence, post partum, etc.). Furthermore, sporting activities can promote mental health by facilitating the release of specific neurotransmitters that can make the autonomic nervous system more resilient.
Additionally, psychopathological conditions related to eating and obsessive–compulsive spectrum disorders (such as orthorexia) can lead to serious organic impairments.
Considering the success of the previous Special Issue, entitled “Bidirectional Link Between Eating Habits, Lifestyle, Physical Exercise and Depression and Other Mental Disorders”, we are pleased to announce that we are launching a second Special Issue on this topic. Our objective for this Special Issue is to publish selected articles detailing specific aspects of nutrition and other lifestyle interventions, such as participation in physical activity. Contributions describing the effects of mental health on lifestyle and physical health are welcome, as are works illustrating how specific nutrients and micronutrients can promote better psycho-physical well-being.
Prof. Dr. Carlo Pruneti
Dr. Sara Guidotti
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- depression
- eating habits
- lifestyle
- physical activity
- body–mind integration
- autonomic imbalance
- non-pharmacological treatments
- nutritional deficit
- biological abnormalities
- psychopathology
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