Western diet linked to teen's poor mental health
A new study from The Kids for Child Health Research has shown a link between Western-style diets and more mental health problems in teenagers.
The research paper has just been published online in the respected international journal Preventive Medicine.
Report author and leader of Nutrition studies at the Institute, Dr Wendy Oddy, said the results were based on detailed analysis of diet records and behaviour checklists that were collected from more than 1600 West Australian 14-year-olds in the Raine Cohort Study.
"Our analysis found that higher levels of behaviour and emotional problems were associated with a more Western-style way of eating, namely a diet high in takeaway foods, red meat, confectionary, soft drinks, white bread and unrefined cereals," Dr Oddy said.
"We also showed that these problems were less among teens with a more healthier style of eating, specifically those who ate more fruit and vegetables.
"This suggests that if we want to reduce the high rates of mental health problems among young people, then improving their overall diet could be a good place to start."
The study participants' food intake was assessed using a 212-item food frequency questionnaire. The Child Behaviour Checklist was used to assess internalising mental health problems, such as withdrawn and depressed behaviours, and externalising mental health problems, such as delinquent and aggressive behaviours.
Dr Oddy said previous studies have shown that one in five children are expected to develop some form of mental health problem by the time they reach adulthood, and that 50% of all adult mental health problems develop during adolescence.
"We know that since 1985, children and teenagers have been increasing their energy intake by consuming more soft drinks and processed foods. The number of overweight adolescents has doubled and obesity has tripled in that age group. At the same time there have been marked increases in sedentary behaviours such as TV viewing and computer use," Dr Oddy said.
"Investigating factors that influence mental health in young people must be a high priority. These findings show that there is a need to look at the overall diet, rather than concentrate on individual nutrients."
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About the Raine Study
The Raine Study started in 1989, when 2900 pregnant women were recruited into a research study at King Edward Memorial Hospital to examine ultrasound imaging. The mothers were assessed at 18 weeks of pregnancy, then again at 24, 28, 34 and 38 weeks of pregnancy. During this time information was collected on the mother and the father, for example diet, exercise, work, health, etc. After the children were born, they were assessed at birth, at one year, then two, three and five years of age. Information on their height, weight, eating, walking, talking, eating, behaviour, any medical conditions or illness etc was collected. Further follow-ups of the cohort have been conducted at eight, ten, fourteen, and now seventeen years of age. At each follow-up, information is collected from the parents and the child.