Nutrition Transitions and Dietary Behaviors in Adolescents
Summary
Adolescence is marked by profound shifts in nutritional needs and eating patterns, driven by biological, social and environmental changes. Globally, traditional diets rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables are increasingly displaced by energy-dense, nutrient-poor options, reflecting the broader phenomenon of the nutrition transition. Urbanisation, greater disposable income and pervasive media influence have accelerated consumption of ready-to-eat and ultra-processed foods, contributing to rising rates of overweight, obesity and micronutrient deficiencies among young people. At the same time, awareness of healthy eating and nutrition literacy varies widely, with many adolescents lacking the skills to interpret dietary information and labels. Family practices, school food environments and peer norms also play a critical role in shaping food choices, snacking behaviours and meal patterns. Recognising the complexity of dietary behaviours in this age group, recent research has sought to characterise distinct dietary patterns, explore the impact of nutritional labelling and advertising, and identify modifiable determinants of healthy eating. Insights from diverse settings underscore the need for multi-level interventions that combine education, environmental change and policy measures to steer adolescents towards more balanced diets and sustainable food habits.
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Nutrition Transitions and Dietary Behaviors in Adolescents publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in nutrition transitions and dietary behaviors in adolescents across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Nutrition transition: The shift from traditional, plant-based diets to energy-dense, processed food patterns associated with urbanisation and economic development.
Dietary pattern: A combination of foods and beverages habitually consumed, reflecting overall diet quality rather than single nutrient intake.
Ultra-processed foods: Industrial formulations typically high in added sugars, fats and salt, with minimal whole-food content.
Healthy Eating Index: A composite measure of diet quality based on adherence to dietary guidelines, scoring consumption of recommended food groups.
Home food environment: The availability, accessibility and parental modelling of foods within the household that influence adolescent eating behaviours.
References
- Using the Nutrition Facts Label to Make Food Choices Is Associated with Healthier Eating among 8th and 11th-Grade Students: An Analysis of Statewide Representative Data from the 2019–2020 Texas School Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey. Nutrients (2024).
- Exploring the influence of food labels and advertisements on eating habits of children: a cross-sectional study from Punjab, India. BMC Public Health (2023).
- Food consumption patterns of adolescents aged 14–16 years in Kolkata, India. Nutrition Journal (2017).
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