Meat and alcohol instead of fruits and vegetables

European adolescents feed unhealthily

21.07.2011

Most European adolescents are extremely unhealthy. Few fruits and vegetables, but lots of meat and sweets determine the daily eating habits of most of the adolescents, according to the study HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescents).

With the aim of improving the health of adolescents in Europe in the long term, the HELENA study has examined dietary intake, nutritional knowledge and eating behavior of young people at 26 research sites in ten different European countries. In addition to dietary habits and preferences, the researchers said vitamin status, immune function related to nutritional status, as well as the physical activity and fitness of adolescents between the ages of 13 and years were scrutinized. The result does not shed any light on the way of life of European youth.

Origin of diseases in childhood and adolescence
According to the researchers, the „Most diseases originate in childhood and adolescence“, although the foundation for unhealthy eating habits is often laid in the early teens. These in turn can cause further health problems later in life. The nutritional habits of European adolescents and the health of adolescents have been analyzed by 26 teams of scientists at research sites in Belgium, Germany, France, Greece, Great Britain, Italy, Austria, Sweden, Spain and Hungary. The physicians, biochemists, nutritionists, epidemiologists, sports and social scientists involved in the investigations found that one third of European boys and one in five girls aged 13 to 16 were overweight (body mass index between 25 and 30 years) ). Six percent of European adolescents are even obese (obese), according to the results of the HELENA study.

Teenagers consume too much meat and sweets
A look at the dietary habits of most European adolescents also reveals why many of them are struggling with weight issues, the researchers report. Only just over twelve percent of boys and about 16 percent of girls eat the recommended amount of fruit and vegetables every day. Instead, meat and sweets are consumed in excess. According to the HELENA study, Europeans eat on average 100 grams of vegetables, 125 grams of fruit, 160 grams of meat, 20 grams of fish, 55 grams of sweet baked goods and 25 grams of chocolate per day. 0.37 liters of water and 0.31 liters of soft drinks are drunk, the researchers report. Overall, the European adolescents come on the day on 2300 to 3300 kilocalories, which leads to the formation of fat deposits even in a body in the long term growth, so the result of HELENA study. Also, the consumption of sausage and meat is significantly higher than would be recommended for health reasons, the researchers said. According to the current study, on average, only seven percent of the diet of European adolescents consists of vegetable food.

Excessive alcohol consumption among European adolescents
In addition to the excessive consumption of meat and sweets, the researchers are mainly concerned about the alcohol consumption among young people. While adolescents are more likely to hold back on healthy foods, they really hit alcoholic drinks. One-fifth of the daily fluid intake of European adolescents contains alcohol, according to the results of the HELENA study. The highest alcohol is consumed by the Austrian youth, who consume twice as many alcoholic drinks with half a liter of beer or a quarter of a liter of wine as the adolescents in other European countries. The preference for sweets is particularly pronounced among Austrian teenagers, the researchers report.

Lack of knowledge about healthy eating
In the study of eating behavior and the design of meals, the researchers found numerous similarities in the different European countries. For example, in most European countries, three main meals and several snacks are held. Only the Spaniards, with their five main meals a day as part of the HELENA study, form a lone exception. The researchers also noted that most European adolescents, when asked about their food preference, said that healthy food was boring and not very tasty. Also, a large proportion of adolescents were convinced that the healthy foods do not sufficiently satisfy hunger, are too expensive and take too much time to prepare. There seems to be significant gaps in knowledge about a healthy diet, according to the researchers. Although the adolescents are well aware of the importance of nutrition for their health, they lack the knowledge to put it into practice and the stomach is often different than the head.

Sport as a balance of unhealthy eating habits
Overall, girls are much better off than boys in terms of healthy eating habits. But even with the girls, the researchers see significant deficits. In general, the adolescents with higher body weight would have relatively little knowledge about healthy nutrition. However, adolescents are apparently unaware of their own misconduct, with 85% of them believing that they are eating well, according to the HELENA study. At least 36 percent of adolescents said they did not eat unhealthy food and only five percent agreed to follow unhealthy eating habits, the researchers report. However, the scientists saw a slight ray of hope in the sporting activities of the adolescents. According to the HELENA study, nearly 50 percent of male teenagers and one-third of girls are at least 60 minutes a day. Thus, some deficiencies in the unhealthy diet may possibly be offset by the health benefits of the sport. Overall, however, the experts are extremely critical of the health status and eating habits of European youth. However, the HELENA study provides a good basis for developing innovative strategies for the healthier behavior of adolescents and for subsequently harmonizing dietary recommendations throughout Europe, the scientists explained when presenting their current findings.

Long-term health problems due to unhealthy diet
The unhealthy eating habits of adolescents as presented in the HELENA study are particularly worrying, as they can be associated with significant adverse health consequences. Previous studies have already addressed the various health consequences of unhealthy diets. Earlier this year, American scientists headed by Antonio Convit of the Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatry Research in New York presented the results of two independent studies demonstrating that malnutrition combined with obesity can shrink entire brain regions and thus cause further disturbances in eating behavior. In addition, Pediatric gastroenterologist Paolo Lionetti of the University of Florence presented a study in August of last year, according to which the dietary habits in the industrialized nations significantly increase the risk of allergies. Also several times an increased diabetes and obesity risk in unhealthy eating habits has been scientifically proven. The results of the HELENA study should therefore also be understood as a call, according to the researchers, to develop suitable measures to achieve a healthier diet of the adolescents in the long term. (Fp)

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Picture credits: Dieter Schütz