About 90% of teenagers need to improve the quality of their diet, especially boys

he 94% Of the boys and 89% Of girls Central Catalonia They consume fewer fruits, vegetables, grains, milk and dairy products than recommended by the world's nutritional guides Spanish Community Nutrition Association. On the contrary, they eat processed meats, sweets, soft drinks and snacks more often than the same recommendations stipulate, which is why they consume foods high in saturated fats, salt and added sugars. The result of these consumer habits is that Diet Of these and these young women have one High energy content and low nutritional value.

This is the main conclusion of the study titled The relationship between diet quality and socioeconomic and health-related factors in adolescents by gender“, recently published in the magazine Nutrients. The work was done using data collected as part of the project DESKcohortpowered by Umanrisa, which collects data on health-related habits among young people in central Catalonia. The data with which the study was prepared is part of 7,319 surveys in which it was made Young people between 12 and 18 years oldThey studied in 65 centers in Central Catalonia during the 2019-2010 academic year. with Esther Potts Mallett As the principal investigator, the article is also signed by Marina Bosque-Bruce, Laura Esquios, Helena Gonzalez Casals, Aina Lavon Guache, Paula Fortes Muñoz, Albert Espelt, and Alicia Aguilar Martinez, researchers from Open University of Catalonia (UOC) And from Autonomous University of Barcelona Which are part of inter-institutional research groups Epi4Health I Food Lab.

Gender differences in diet quality

According to the main researcher in the study. Boots EstherThe analysis of the data collected in the study allows us to conclude that “one Worse diet quality It is associated with socio-demographic characteristics such as being a boy, having parents with a lower level of education and worse academic performance. “In addition, in the case of girls, low mood is added as an adaptive factor.” The data also show that problematic alcohol or tobacco use and mobile phone use also negatively affect diet quality.

Although they have as many boys as girls Low-quality diet,The data is worse in case Noise. According to the researchers, this could be related to a greater interest in girls regarding the relationship between diet and health and its effect on the body and also to a greater interest and knowledge of nutritional aspects.

On the other hand, regarding girlsThe relationship between Bad mood The quality of the diet is consistent with other studies that show a relationship between gender and emotional motivations in choosing food to cope with stress, or comfort when a person becomes depressed.

The effect of parental education level on diet

Regarding the relationship betweenParental education and diet qualityThe study's conclusions are consistent with other work that also shows that a high level of parental education is associated with child well-being.Adopt healthy eating habitsEspecially with regard to the consumption of fruits and vegetables. Low consumption of fruits and vegetables is also associated with A Decreased academic performanceaccording to scientific evidence.

Toxic habits, such as consumerismAlcohol and tobaccoProblematic use of technologies such as mobile phones and non-compliance with recommendations regarding physical activity are also associated with poor diet quality among young people.

The results of the study confirm the need forInfluencing the eating habits of young people. Esther Kollias explains that adolescence “is an essential period for promoting healthy lifestyles and appropriate nutritional habits that continue into adulthood. That is why it is essential Improving the quality of the diet For most teens through programs Health promotion “As an integral part of the educational program of schools to avoid increasing food and health inequalities.”

Reference material:

Kolelas Mallett, E.; Bosque Bruce, M.; Esquis, L.; Gonzalez Casals, H.; Lafon Gouache, A.; Fortes Muñoz, P.; Espelt, A.; Aguilar Martinez, A. The relationship between diet quality and socioeconomic and health-related factors in adolescents by gender. Nutrients 2024, 16, 139. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16010139