Depressed Folk Predisposed to Avoid Meat

It’s time to revisit that old chestnut “a substantial correlation does not answer the question of causation.” The Daily Mail (U.K.) describes a meta analysis done at the University of Alabama, looking at the relationship between vegetarianism or veganism and mental health.

The very first sentence shows DM doesn’t understand causation.

A vegetarian or vegan diet may be increasing the likelihood of depression, a US-based study suggests.

It is equally likely that depression may increase the likelihood of following a vegetarian or vegan diet. In fact I’d suggest it is more likely, although the data don’t support my conclusion either. The article continues:

People with a plant-based diet were twice as likely to take prescription drugs for mental illness and nearly three times as likely to contemplate suicide.

The report, which looked at more than 160,000 people, also found that a shocking one in three vegetarians suffer from depression or anxiety.

Researchers reviewed 18 studies examining the relationship between mental health and eating meat, involving a total of 160,257 participants.

Finally, we get close to the truth, which the researchers understood all along.

The researchers suggest that avoiding meat may be a 'behavioural marker' indicating people already with poor mental health.

Unhappy people, including the clinically depressed, cast about for ways to lessen their "down" feelings.  Changing diet is one of those ways, and it may create a "placebo effect" for some whose depression isn't severe. They feel they're doing something to feel better, providing a sense of control.

Still, it's a fine excuse to have a nice medium-rare ribeye steak, calling it a mental health activity. Hat tip to Ed Driscoll who guest blogs at Instapundit for the link.