Dietary Patterns and Weight Management in Young Adults

The period spanning late adolescence to young adulthood represents a pivotal window for the establishment of lifelong dietary habits and body‐weight trajectories. During this transition, many individuals experience unfavourable shifts towards energy‐dense, nutrient‐poor foods, reduced physical activity and increased sedentary behaviour, all of which contribute to progressive weight gain. A range of socio-ecological factors—individual preferences, time constraints, stress levels, social networks and the wider food environment—interact to shape eating behaviours. Empirically derived dietary patterns, such as “Prudent” patterns rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains versus “Western” patterns high in processed foods and added sugars, have been linked to differential risks of overweight and metabolic disturbance. Interventions that modify the nutritional environment, enhance food literacy and deliver targeted education have shown promise in curbing weight gain and fostering balanced dietary choices. Given the global rise in young-adult obesity and its long-term health implications, research continues to refine multilevel strategies—including campus-based interventions, digital support tools and policy measures—to promote sustainable, health-promoting eating habits in this age group.

Research from Nature Portfolio

No recent Nature Portfolio content available.

Dietary Patterns and Weight Management in Young Adults publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in dietary patterns and weight management in young adults across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Dietary pattern: The combination and relative quantities of foods and beverages habitually consumed by an individual or group.
Body Mass Index (BMI): A standardised index calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared (kg/m²), used to classify underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity.
Nutritional environment: The physical, economic and organisational context that influences food availability, accessibility and choice, including retail outlets, dining services and pricing structures.

References

1. Measuring and shaping the nutritional environment via food sales logs: case studies of campus-wide food choice and a call to action. Frontiers in Nutrition (2024).
2. Assessment of Lifestyle, Eating Habits and the Effect of Nutritional Education among Undergraduate Students in Southern Italy. Nutrients (2023).
3. Understanding Eating Behavior during the Transition from Adolescence to Young Adulthood: A Literature Review and Perspective on Future Research Directions. Nutrients (2018).
4. Changes in weight, physical activity, sedentary behaviour and dietary intake during the transition to higher education: a prospective study. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (2015).
5. Cross-Sectional Associations between Empirically-Derived Dietary Patterns and Indicators of Disease Risk among University Students. Nutrients (2015).