The initial results of the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) project conclude that some 27% of young men and 20% of women aged 13-17 are either overweight or obese.
The Helena study finds the diet composition and food consumption patterns of EU teens to be "startling" as "only 13% and 16% of teens respectively eat at least 200g of vegetables and at least two pieces of fruit each day". By comparison, it reveals, "50% of adolescents had fat intakes higher than 35% of total energy intake". As for physical activity, boys (58%) are doing better than girls (31%) as regards the advised minimum of one hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day.
The project reveals, for the first time at European level, data on nutritional intake, behaviour and food preferences as well as the fitness and physical activity patterns of adolescents. The first results of this project were made public on 21-22 April.
The data produced by the project could lead to the development of effective EU-wide policy recommendations to promote balanced diets and encourage increased physical activity among young people.
In the framework of the project, a number of SMEs have already developed "healthy alternatives to popular teen snack foods". These new products, including cereal-based snack bars, low fat hamburgers and wholegrain cereal drinks will "likely lead to commercial success," according to the study.
Child and adolescent obesity is of particular concern as eating habits and levels of physical exercise are often developed very early and tend to persist throughout life. Therefore, obese young people tend to become obese adults, along with all the health risks this condition represents, including heart disease, type two diabetes, hypertension, strokes and certain types of cancer.
