A new study has made the link between Western-style diets and an increase in mental illnesses amongst teenagers.
Img: Teenagers. Credit: Kanzeon Zen Center/Flickr.
A research paper by Australia-based Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, published in the journal Preventive Medicine, outlines the findings of studies conducted on diet records and the behaviour of more than 1,600 West Australian 14-year-olds, according to an Institute news release.
Report author and leader of Nutrition studies at the Institute Dr. Wendy Oddy said there was a definite link with teenage mental problems such as depression.
"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, confectionery, 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," she added. "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."
Dr. Oddy also said that one in five people develop mental illness and previous studies showed that 50 percent of these mental illnesses begin in 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," she 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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