Junk food, red meat, lollies linked to mental illness in teens

A WA study has found a link between Western-style diets and increased mental health problems in teenagers.

The study, completed at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, was led by Dr Wendy Oddy who said the results were based on the detailed analysis of diet records and behaviour checklists collected from more than 1600 West Australian 14-year-olds in the Raine Cohort Study.

The Raine Study started 20 years ago when 2,900 pregnant women were recruited into a research study at King Edward Memorial Hospital to examine ultrasound imaging.

The mothers to be were assessed at 18 weeks of pregnancy, then again at 24, 28, 34 and 38 weeks of pregnancy. During this time information was collected on the mother and the father, relating to diet, exercise, work and health.

Further information was collected during the child's teenage years.

"Our analysis found that higher levels of behaviour and emotional problems were associated with a more Western-style way of eating, namely a diet high in takeaway foods, red meat, confectionary, soft drinks, white bread and unrefined cereals," Dr Oddy said.

"We also showed that these problems were less among teens with a healthier style of eating, specifically those who ate more fruit and vegetables.

“This suggests that if we want to reduce the high rates of mental health problems among young people, then improving their overall diet could be a good place to start."

Dr Oddy said the study found there has been an increase in depression, anxiety and aggressive disorders among children.

She said previous studies had shown one in five children were expected to develop some form of mental health problem by the time they reached adulthood, and that 50 per cent of all adult mental health problems developed during adolescence.

"We know that since 1985, children and teenagers have been increasing their energy intake by consuming more soft drinks and processed foods," Dr Oddy said.

"The number of overweight adolescents has doubled and obesity has tripled in that age group."

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