ArticlePloS one2026
Healthier dietary habits are associated with lower depression and anxiety among medical students at a private university in Lima, Peru: A cross-sectional study.
Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
introductionAnxiety and depression are common conditions among medical students. In recent years, numerous factors associated with these disorders have been investigated; however, evidence regarding the role of dietary habits remains limited.
objectiveTo evaluate the association between dietary habits and the presence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among medical students at a private university in Lima, Peru.
methodsAn analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in 2025 among medical students aged 18 years and older. Dietary habits were assessed using the Healthy Eating Index, while anxiety and depression were measured using the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scales, respectively. Poisson regression with robust variance was used to calculate prevalence ratios (PR).
resultsA total of 264 students were included. Only a minority had healthy dietary habits (1.1%), and the prevalences of anxiety (34.9%) and depression (45.1%) were high. For each additional point in the Healthy Eating Index, the prevalence of anxiety decreased by 3% (aPR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.95 to 0.98), while the prevalence of depression decreased by 2% (aPR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.96 to 0.99).
conclusionDietary habits were inversely associated with the prevalence of anxiety and depression among medical students. These findings highlight the importance of promoting healthy dietary patterns as part of comprehensive strategies for the prevention and promotion of mental health in this population.
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