Food for Thought: How Poor Diets are Linked to Increasing Rates of Mental Health Problems in Children and Teens
Apr 11, 2025
Welcome to Part 10 of my mini-series exploring possible causes for the sharp increase of children and teenagers experiencing mental health concerns.
This week I want to explore the subject of diet, as there is lots of evidence to suggest that children are eating more junk and ultra-processed foods (UPF's) than ever before, and I am sure this could be behind the increase in mental health problems in the whole population, not just children and young people.
Studies have shown that over the past few decades, there has been a significant increase in the consumption of high-calorie, high-fat, and high-sugar foods, which are often heavily processed and contain little nutritional value. These foods include fast food, sugary drinks, packaged snacks, and convenience foods.
So in this week's video I explore the effects of this kind of diet on mental health.
To find out more, just watch the video below. You might also like to watch some earlier videos I made on the subject of diet and mental health.
These formed a small mini-series called 'The Food Mood Connection' and can be found on the blog by searching for 'diet and mental health'.
Warmest wishes
