Study links frequent fried food consumption to higher risk of anxiety and depression

admin 2023年5月27日

Intermediate

Health & Lifestyle, Health & Lifestyle - Intermediate

Pre-reading questions:

I will read each question. Then, please answer them.

Which fried foods do you enjoy the most?
Do you have a healthy diet? Tell me more about it.

Vocabulary:

I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.

associate /uh-SOH-shee-eyt/

[verb] – to think about something as being connected to something else
The child has associated the sound of the doorbell with the arrival of the mailman.

anxiety /ang-ZAHY-i-tee/

[noun] – an uncomfortable feeling of nervousness or worry about something that is happening or might happen in the future
She felt a knot in her stomach and a sense of anxiety as she waited for the results of her medical test.

symptom /SIMP-tuhm/

[noun] – any feeling of illness or physical or mental change that is caused by a particular disease
A runny nose and sneezing are common symptoms of allergies.

emphasize /EM-fuh-sahyz/

[verb] – to show that something is very important or worth giving attention to
The coach wanted to emphasize the importance of teamwork and communication to his players before the start of the season.

lifestyle /LAHYF-stahyl/

[noun] – someone’s way of living; the things that a person or particular group of people usually do
She decided to adopt a healthier lifestyle by eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly.

Article reading:

Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.

A study conducted in Hangzhou, China, has found that frequent consumption of fried foods, particularly fried potatoes, is associated with a 12% higher risk of anxiety and a 7% higher risk of depression. The study assessed 140,728 individuals over an 11.3-year period and found that young men and younger individuals were more affected by the link. The researchers compared the effects of fried food consumption in humans and acrylamide exposure in zebrafish to suggest that frequent consumption of the chemical commonly found in fried food could have a negative effect on mental health.

Experts in nutrition have cautioned that the results are preliminary and that it is unclear whether fried foods are causing mental health issues or whether people experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety turn to fried foods as a form of self-medication. Despite this, the researchers pointed out that the study results emphasize the importance of reducing the consumption of fried food for mental health. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and reducing consumption of fried foods may be helpful for mental health as well as overall health. Dr. Katz also noted that a lack of variety in food has been shown to decrease well-being.

Comprehension questions

I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.

Which type of fried food was found to be particularly associated with higher risks of anxiety and depression in the study?
Who was more affected by the link between frequent consumption of fried foods and mental health issues?
What did the researchers compare the effects of fried food consumption in humans with to suggest the negative effect of the chemical found in fried food?
Is it clear whether fried foods are causing mental health issues?
What do the researchers suggest to maintain good mental health?

Discussion questions