Diet Quality and Mental Health in Adolescents
Summary
Adolescence represents a formative period during which dietary habits and mental health trajectories are closely intertwined. Emerging evidence indicates that higher overall diet quality—characterised by greater consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins—correlates with lower incidence of depressive symptoms, enhanced emotional well-being and improved psychosocial functioning. Conversely, diets rich in sugar-sweetened beverages, processed foods and high-fat snacks have been linked to heightened risk of anxiety, mood disturbances and behavioural difficulties. Mechanistic pathways are thought to involve modulation of systemic inflammation, gut-brain axis signalling and neurochemical synthesis, including neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. Sociodemographic factors, family food environment and cultural dietary norms further shape these associations, underscoring the need for context-sensitive nutritional strategies. A growing body of longitudinal research suggests that early improvements in diet quality may foster resilience against common mental health challenges during adolescence and beyond.
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Diet Quality and Mental Health in Adolescents publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in diet quality and mental health in adolescents across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Global Diet Quality Score (GDQS): A standardised index that allocates points across 25 food groups to quantify overall diet quality, facilitating comparisons across populations.
Quality of Life (QoL): A multidimensional construct encompassing physical health, psychological state, level of independence and social relationships, often measured by validated questionnaires.
Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs): Drinks containing added caloric sweeteners such as sucrose, high-fructose corn syrup or fruit concentrates, linked to adverse physical and mental health outcomes.
Internalising Symptoms: Psychological difficulties directed inward, including depression, anxiety and somatic complaints, typically assessed through self-report or caregiver-rated scales.
Meta-analysis: A statistical method that combines results from multiple studies to derive pooled effect estimates, enhancing the precision and generalisability of findings.
References
- Multi-faceted nutritional science demonstrated through the prism of sugar: a scoping review on sugar intake and association with quality of life in children and adolescents. European Journal of Nutrition (2025).
- Higher global diet quality score is related to lower prevalence of depression and poor quality of life among adolescent girls. BMC Psychiatry (2023).
- Dietary patterns and internalizing symptoms in children and adolescents: A meta-analysis. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry (2021).
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