Men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer often struggle with depression, anxiety, and stress—and these mental health challenges may make it harder for them to eat well. Researchers studied 70 men with prostate cancer histories and found that most weren’t eating a healthy diet, with very few getting enough vegetables, fruits, and fish. Interestingly, men with worse mental health symptoms were more likely to want to eat unhealthy foods, even though their actual diet quality wasn’t directly linked to their mood. The study suggests that prostate cancer survivors need extra support from nutrition experts, especially if they’re dealing with mental health challenges.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether men who have had prostate cancer eat healthy diets and how their mental health (depression, anxiety, stress) connects to their eating habits and food choices.
  • Who participated: 70 men, averaging 72 years old, who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Most were at least 3 years past their diagnosis and had finished treatment. They were found through cancer support groups and online communities.
  • Key finding: Men with higher depression, anxiety, and stress were more likely to want to eat unhealthy foods, but surprisingly, their actual diet quality wasn’t directly connected to their mental health symptoms. About 70% of the men weren’t eating a high-quality diet overall.
  • What it means for you: If you’re a prostate cancer survivor dealing with depression, anxiety, or stress, you may need extra help and support from a nutrition expert to make healthy eating choices. Simply knowing what to eat might not be enough—addressing your mental health is also important.

The Research Details

This was a cross-sectional study, which means researchers collected information from a group of men at one point in time rather than following them over months or years. Men with current or past prostate cancer diagnoses were recruited through support groups, men’s groups, and social media pages. They completed surveys and questionnaires about their diet, eating habits, and mental health symptoms.

Researchers used three main tools to measure different things: the Mediterranean Adherence Screener (MEDAS) to check how closely men followed a healthy Mediterranean-style diet, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale to measure mental health symptoms, and the American Cancer Society’s nutrition quiz to assess eating behaviors and intentions. They also asked about physical activity and other health conditions to get a complete picture.

The researchers then used statistical analysis to look for connections between mental health, eating intentions, and actual diet quality, while accounting for factors like age, exercise habits, and other medical conditions.

This approach is important because it captures real-world information from actual prostate cancer survivors rather than testing something in a lab. By looking at multiple factors at once—diet, mental health, and eating intentions—researchers can identify patterns that might help doctors and nutritionists provide better support. Understanding that mental health affects eating intentions (even if not actual diet quality) suggests that treating depression and anxiety might be just as important as giving nutrition advice.

This study has some strengths: it used validated, established measurement tools that are recognized in medical research, and it included important factors like physical activity and other health conditions in the analysis. However, the sample size is relatively small (70 men), which means the findings may not apply to all prostate cancer survivors. The study was cross-sectional, so it shows associations but cannot prove that mental health causes unhealthy eating intentions. Additionally, participants self-reported their cancer diagnosis and health information, which could introduce errors. The study was conducted at one point in time, so we don’t know if these patterns stay the same over time.

What the Results Show

The most striking finding was that 70% of the men in the study had low diet quality scores. When researchers looked at specific foods, they found that very few men were eating enough healthy foods: only 4.3% ate enough vegetables, 41.4% ate enough fruit, 38.6% ate enough nuts and seeds, 17.1% ate enough legumes (beans), and 48.6% ate enough fish. On the positive side, most men (85.7%) were limiting high-energy baked foods and 72.9% were limiting fried foods.

The second major finding was about mental health and eating intentions. Men who reported higher symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress were significantly more likely to say they intended to eat unhealthy foods. The connection was strong: for every increase in depression symptoms, the intention to limit unhealthy foods decreased by 0.602 points; for anxiety it decreased by 0.737 points; and for stress it decreased by 0.660 points (these differences were statistically significant, meaning they’re unlikely to be due to chance).

However, there was a surprising finding: while mental health symptoms were connected to the intention to eat unhealthy foods, they were not directly connected to actual diet quality. This suggests that men’s mental health affects their motivation and plans to eat well, but other factors may be influencing what they actually eat.

The study found that most participants (61.8%) had completed their cancer treatment and were at least 3 years past their diagnosis. This is important because it shows these men were dealing with long-term survivorship challenges rather than acute treatment side effects. The average age of participants was 72 years, which is typical for prostate cancer survivors. The disconnect between eating intentions and actual diet quality suggests that even when men want to eat healthier, they may face barriers—such as difficulty cooking, cost, taste preferences, or lack of practical guidance—that prevent them from following through.

Previous research has shown that cancer survivors often struggle with mental health issues and that diet quality is important for overall health and cancer prevention. This study adds to that knowledge by showing the specific connection between mental health and eating intentions in prostate cancer survivors. It also highlights that the relationship between mental health and diet may be more complex than previously thought—mental health affects motivation and intentions, but actual eating patterns may be influenced by other practical factors. The finding that most men weren’t meeting dietary recommendations aligns with broader research showing that many older adults don’t eat enough fruits, vegetables, and fish.

The study has several important limitations to consider. First, it included only 70 men, which is a relatively small group. This means the findings may not apply to all prostate cancer survivors, especially those from different backgrounds or geographic areas. Second, all information was self-reported, meaning men had to remember and accurately report their eating habits and health information, which can be unreliable. Third, the study only looked at one moment in time, so we don’t know if these patterns are consistent or if they change over time. Fourth, the study couldn’t prove cause-and-effect relationships—we know mental health and eating intentions are connected, but we can’t say that depression causes unhealthy eating intentions or vice versa. Finally, the study didn’t explore why men with poor mental health had stronger intentions to eat unhealthy foods, so the reasons behind this connection remain unclear.

The Bottom Line

If you’re a prostate cancer survivor, consider working with a registered dietitian or nutritionist who understands cancer survivorship, especially if you’re experiencing depression, anxiety, or stress. Focus on gradually increasing your intake of vegetables, fruits, fish, nuts, seeds, and legumes—these foods are particularly important for cancer survivors. If you’re struggling with mental health, seek support from a mental health professional, as addressing depression and anxiety may help improve your eating habits. These recommendations are based on moderate evidence from this study combined with broader cancer survivorship research.

These findings are most relevant for men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, particularly those who are several years past their diagnosis and dealing with mental health challenges. Partners and family members of prostate cancer survivors should also pay attention, as they can provide support. Healthcare providers, including oncologists, primary care doctors, and nutritionists, should use this information to recognize that mental health support may be just as important as nutrition advice for cancer survivors. Men without a cancer history may also benefit from understanding the connection between mental health and eating habits.

Improvements in eating habits typically take several weeks to months to develop, especially when mental health is also being addressed. You might notice small changes in energy and mood within 2-4 weeks of improving your diet, but more significant health benefits usually take 3-6 months or longer. Mental health improvements may take several weeks to months depending on the type of support you receive. It’s important to be patient with yourself and recognize that sustainable changes happen gradually.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your daily intake of five key food groups: vegetables (aim for 2-3 servings), fruits (aim for 2-3 servings), fish (aim for 2-3 times per week), nuts/seeds (aim for a small handful daily), and legumes (aim for 2-3 times per week). Also track your mood daily using a simple 1-10 scale to see if improvements in diet correlate with mood changes.
  • Start with one small change: add one extra serving of vegetables or fruit to your daily diet this week. Next week, add fish to one meal. The week after, add nuts or seeds as a snack. This gradual approach is more sustainable than trying to change everything at once. Use the app to set reminders for meal prep or grocery shopping for these foods.
  • Use the app to track your weekly diet quality score (similar to the Mediterranean diet score used in this study) and your mental health symptoms weekly. Look for patterns over 4-8 weeks: are weeks with better diet quality also weeks with better mood? Share this data with your healthcare provider or dietitian to identify barriers and adjust your approach. Set monthly goals for increasing healthy food intake and celebrate small wins.

This research describes associations found in a small study of 70 men and should not be considered medical advice. If you are a prostate cancer survivor experiencing depression, anxiety, or stress, please consult with your oncologist, primary care physician, or mental health professional before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle. A registered dietitian can provide personalized nutrition guidance based on your individual health needs and cancer treatment history. This study shows connections between mental health and eating intentions but does not prove that one causes the other. Always discuss any dietary changes with your healthcare team, especially if you are taking medications or have other health conditions.