Fewer than two in five adolescents eat fruits or vegetables daily; teens from low-income families at higher risk
The report emphasised the necessity for targeted interventions to assist adolescents in forming healthier habits and avoiding behaviours that could harm their current health and well-being, as well as their future as adults. Photo: iStock
A new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) paints a concerning picture of European teenagers’ health habits. The report, based on the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study in 44 countries, highlighted a trifecta of unhealthy eating habits, rising rates of overweight and obesity and low levels of physical activity among youth.
The trifecta poses significant risks for a variety of noncommunicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer.
The health disparities has a greater affect on young people from less affluent families, representing a “vicious cycle of disadvantage”.
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Dr Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, in a statement said the “socioeconomic disparities in adolescent health behaviours contribute to a vicious cycle of disadvantage.”
Fewer than two in five adolescents (38 per cent) eat fruits or vegetables daily, with this number dropping further with age, the report found. Alarmingly, over half of adolescents reported not consuming fruits or vegetables daily, with 56 per cent of boys and 51 per cent of girls aged 15 falling into this category.
In contrast, sweets and sugary drinks continue to be popular among adolescents, with 25 per cent consuming sweets or chocolate on a daily basis. This rate is higher among girls (28 per cent) than boys (23 per cent) and has increased since 2018, particularly among girls, rising from 23 per cent to 27 per cent for 11-year-old girls and from 26 per cent to 28 per cent for 15-year-old girls.
While daily consumption of soft drinks has slightly declined since the last survey in 2018, it still affects 15 per cent of adolescents, with higher rates among boys (16 per cent compared to 14 per cent for girls) and those from less affluent families.
The report also highlighted a troubling connection between socioeconomic status and unhealthy eating habits. Adolescents from lower-income families are more likely to consume sugary drinks (18 per cent versus 15 per cent) and less likely to eat fruits (32 per cent versus 46 per cent) and vegetables (32 per cent versus 54 per cent) daily.
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The report also revealed a troubling rise in overweight and obesity rates among young people. WHO estimated that the number of obese children and adolescents has ballooned from 31 million in 1990 to a staggering 160 million in 2022.
Compounding these dietary concerns is a lack of physical activity. The report indicated that young people are increasingly engaging in sedentary behaviours. It revealed that, overall, only 25 per cent of boys and 15 per cent of girls achieve the recommended 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) daily. Participation declines with age, especially among girls, dropping from 24 per cent of 11-year-old girls to 13 per cent of 15-year-old girls.
Once again, socioeconomic inequalities are evident, with adolescents from more affluent families reporting higher levels of both MVPA and vigorous physical activity (VPA). Specifically, 26 per cent of adolescents from wealthier families achieve the recommended MVPA compared to 16 per cent from less affluent families and 69 per cent participate in VPA compared to 51 per cent.
This suggested that factors such as access to safe spaces for physical activity and participation in organised sports may be influenced by family income.
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The report’s findings signal a need for targeted interventions to enable adolescents to adopt healthier behaviours and avoid habits that affect not only their current health and well-being, but also their future trajectories as adults.
These combined trends could have serious long-term health consequences for young people. The WHO urged governments, schools and families to work together to promote healthy eating habits and encourage physical activity among youth.
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