Associations between dietary behaviours and the mental and physical well-being of Swedish adolescents

Abstract

Aims: This study aims to investigate the association between dietary behaviours, overweight/obesity, and mental health and well-being among Swedish adolescents.

Methods: Data from the 2017/2018 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey of 3692 adolescents aged ≈11, ≈13, and ≈15 years was analysed. We evaluated the prevalence and association of dietary behaviours, characterised by daily intake of fruits and vegetables, consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and sweets once per week, and daily consumption of family meals and breakfast, with socioeconomic and demographic factors. Multivariate logistic regression models (adjusted and unadjusted) were then used to examine the relationship between dietary behaviours, overweight/obesity, and mental health and well-being including psychosomatic complaints, life satisfaction, and school-related pressure.

Results: Boys were more likely to eat breakfast and have meals together with their family than girls, but their fruit and vegetable intake was lower compared to girls. Adolescents with lower socioeconomic status (low family affluence, families perceived 'not well-off' and two unemployed parents), single-parent households and twoforeign born parents were more likely to engage in poorer dietary behaviours. Daily breakfast, family meals, fruit and vegetable intake were positively associated with mental health and well-being. Specifically, daily family meals were linked to higher life satisfaction, fewer psychosomatic complaints, and reduced school-related pressure. Breakfast emerged as a beneficial dietary habit, associated with higher life satisfaction, and a lower likelihood of psychosomatic complaints, school-related pressure, and overweight/obesity. Fruit and vegetable consumption was consistently associated with better mental health and well-being while associations between SSBs and sweets were mixed.

Conclusions: Improving mental health and well-being, along with tackling the rising rates of mental illness and challenges related to overweight/obesity in adolescents constitute key public health priorities. Implementing policies that promote the intake of fruits and vegetables, reducing the consumption of SSBs and sweets, and emphasizing the value of having breakfast and sharing family meals could offer a cost-effective public health intervention.

Keywords: Adolescents; Diet; Eating behaviour; Mental health; Obesity; Physical health; Public health; Socioeconomic disparities.

Fig. 1

(a) Prevalence of dietary behaviours for the total sample. (b) Distribution of dietary behaviours by gender. (c) Distribution of dietary behaviours by age. Notes: The figures b and c reflect the distribution of the adolescents who engaged in a particular dietary behaviour. Sugar Sweetened Beverages (SSBs), Healthy Dietary Behaviours (HDBs)

Fig. 2

Association between dietary behaviours and socioeconomic status and demographic characteristics of adolescents 11-, 13- and 15-years-old. Notes: The results are based on the odds ratios from logistic models. Meal patterns (eating breakfast and family meals) and the consumption of fruits and vegetables were measured as daily intake; consumption of sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) and sweets were assessed as once per week or less