Teenagers’ diet short on fruit and vegetables, finds study

THE majority of British teenagers do not even eat an apple a day, a new study suggests.

Adolescents in the UK have diets which are “unhealthy and unsustainable”, according to the research.

Experts found that seven in 10 British teenagers do not even consume 100g of fruit each day – the equivalent of around one small apple.

Nine in 10 are not eating enough vegetables and 73 per cent exceed the recommended limits of sugar consumption each day, researchers claimed.

The study, which is being presented at the European Congress on Obesity in the Netherlands, set out to assess the proportion of adolescents who are broadly eating in line with a “planetary health diet” which is said to be both healthy and sustainable for the planet by reducing greenhouse gas production.

To assess teenagers’ food consumption, researchers examined data from 942 pupils aged 11 to 15 who go to 16 schools in the West Midlands.

Pupils were asked to complete a survey on their dietary intake the day before. Some 70% consumed less than 100g a day of fruit and 91% did not eat 200g of vegetables each day.

Most were eating more poultry and potatoes than targets set out by the diet – which suggests people should eat plant foods with small amounts of meat and fish.