Australian teenagers obtain approximately 35% of their daily energy from nutrient-poor, energy-dense foods such as confectionery, processed meats, and salty snacks.
The State of Teen Nutrition
Adolescents are the least likely age group to meet fruit and vegetable recommendations (2 servings of fruit and 5 servings of vegetables per day); only 4% do so. The average teenager consumes sugary drinks at least once per week. Globally, about one-third of teenagers experience food insecurity, according to a 2022 study across 95 countries.
Reasons for Unhealthy Eating
Peer Influence and Social Settings
As teens spend more time with friends, their food choices increasingly align with their peers and are influenced by venues like fast-food restaurants.
Cost
Unhealthy foods are often cheaper than healthy options.
Marketing and Trends
Targeted advertising, celebrity endorsements, and social media-driven trends (e.g., microwave mug cakes, 'girl dinner') promote convenient, nutrient-poor options.
Taste and Appetite Control
Junk food is designed to be palatable and may be harder for teens to resist due to incomplete development of appetite regulation.
Recommendations for Improvement
Policy Level
- Enhance nutrition education through a national school curriculum that counters misinformation from social media.
- Increase access to healthy foods by subsidizing school meals, expanding community programs, and supporting local produce markets.
- Restrict marketing of unhealthy foods to teens on apps, gaming platforms, and near schools, sporting fields, and public transport.
At Home
- Encourage teens to cook one meal per week to build cooking skills.
- Involve teens in meal planning that includes tasty, affordable, and healthy options.
- Eat family meals together without electronic devices.
- Avoid shaming teens about their eating habits; instead, focus on making healthy eating enjoyable.
Analysis based on available research and expert recommendations.