‘Multifaceted approach’ important in adolescent growth, nutrition and development

The newly published paper Strategies and interventions for healthy adolescent growth, nutrition, and development featured in a new series in The Lancet draws on insights from neuroscience, economics, psychology, medicine, and public health to review the most effective ways of working with young people to improve their nutrition.

The comprehensive series paper addresses the fact that adolescent growth and nutrition has been largely overlooked in intervention and policy research and takes a broad look at the many interventions and policies extending across education, health, food systems, social protection, and digital media that that impact adolescent diets.

'Exciting area for researchers'

Co-author of the paper Dougal Hargreaves, Houston Reader in Paediatrics & Population Health, Children and Young People workstream NIHR ARC Northwest London highlights the importance nutrition has on adolescents:

“The openness of adolescents to change, and the knock-on effects of their actions on other age groups, make this an exciting area for researchers and policymakers at global, national and local levels.”

The three new papers form an important series that builds on the growing interest in designing and implementing effective strategies and interventions for adolescent nutrition.

Changes in diet and physical activity

Adolescence is described as a ‘pivotal point’ is a person’s development offers opportunities to adopt changes in diet and physical activity that can persist into later life in the face of a growing obesity epidemic. As Co-author Geva Greenfield and Research Fellow, NIHR ARC Northwest London, explains:

“Adolescence is a pivotal point of change, characterised by both cognitive, and emotional growth. Among all age groups, adolescents are probably the most sensitive to social norms. It is not surprising though, that the most effective health actions for adolescents take into account their rapid emotional development and identity formation and the social forces, such as peer context. It is hence unlikely that a single, ‘one size fits all’ intervention will generate desired outcomes. We hence argue in this paper for a multifaceted approach considering various interventions.”

The papers were officially launched at an event hosted by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and The Lancet. Follow #NourishOurFuture on Twitter for more.

Image courtesy of: https://www.worldobesity.org/