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Teenagers and nutrition: strategy development

Project Code: XA0508

07/04/2010

Recent FSA research has highlighted the fact that messages about healthy eating are not getting though to a range of groups, including young people. As a consequence of this, and other studies, the FSA is to launch an initiative to promote healthy eating amongst this age group.

There is a range of nutritional issues in adolescence that differ from those experienced by the general population. These include obesity and overweight, iron deficiency, reproductive health, low intakes of calcium and vitamin D and restricted food consumption. Young people are not concerned with health impacts, particularly those in later life.

In addition, influences on young people are different from those of the general population and healthy eating messages require specific, relevant mechanisms for delivery.

The key healthy eating messages for this age group are seen to be:

Increase cereals/starchy foods such as bread, rice, noodles, cereals, potatoes and pasta.
Increase intake of fruit and vegetables, i.e., eat five portions or more a day.
Reduce foods containing fat.
Reduce foods and drinks containing sugar.
Encourage meal frequency rather than ’snacking’.

Reduce foods containing salt.

Final report

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