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Proven association between eating patterns and the development of mental disorders in adolescents
Last reviewed: 30.06.2025
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Teenagers who eat 'junk food' are more likely to have mental health problems, according to scientists from Deakin University (Australia).
The study, which ran from 2005 to 2007, looked at the eating habits and mental health of 3,000 Australian adolescents aged 11 to 18. The researchers found a strong link between boys' diet and mental health: the healthier their diet in 2005, the better their mental health in 2007, and this link held up after accounting for smoking, weight and socioeconomic status.
Feedback, that is, changes in diet as a result of mental health problems, has not been proven.
Teenagers who were able to improve their diet showed improvements in their mental health. And those who began to eat worse were diagnosed with various mental disorders, including depressive disorders. This study emphasizes that these changes in mental status are not related to changes in the weight or physical activity level of the participants.
The study's findings suggest that some cases of depression in adolescents could be prevented by monitoring children's diets.