Time bomb ticking over teenage girls’ diets

Experts are warning of a ticking time bomb over teenage girls’ diets, with just seven per cent eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.

One in 13 girls aged 11 to 18 consume five-a-day, with the average intake being 2.7 portions daily, according to the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey.

Almost half (44 per cent) of teenage girls are also not getting enough iron in their diet, showed the data published by the Department of Health.

Boys aged 11 to 18 are also lacking essential vitamins and nutrients, with just one in eight (13 per cent) eating five a day, with the average number of portions being 3.1.

In adulthood, the number begins to rise, with around one in three adults eating five a day, the analysis of more than 2,000 adults and children showed.

The average number of portions was 4.2 among under-65s and 4.4 for those over 65.

Experts are concerned about adult consumption of saturated fat, with those aged 19 to 64 eating a tenth more than recommended levels. Most people are also not getting enough oily fish, the survey drawn from interviews, diaries and blood and urine samples found.

Chief Medical Officer, Dame Sally Davies, prtofessor, warned that poor eating habits in childhood can increase problems in later life, such as heart disease and some cancers.

She said: “It is really important that teenagers eat a balanced diet - including eating five portions of fruit and veg a day.”

The data did show that younger children’s eating habits are improving, with parents giving them fewer portions of sweets, fizzy drinks and chocolate.

Parents have also been switching children to higher-fibre cereals.

Victoria Taylor, senior dietician at the British Heart Foundation, said: “Our teenage years are an important first opportunity to be responsible for our own food choices, so it’s worrying that so many in this age group are still not getting their five-a-day.

“We already know childhood obesity figures increase as youngsters get older so it’s vital that we make sure healthy options that are both appealing and affordable are available to young people. “While positive changes have been made to the provision of food in school, we need to take every opportunity to make sure children understand the importance of eating healthily and are given the chance to do so - both inside and outside the school gates.”

Barbara Dinsdale, lifestyle manager at Heart Research UK, said: “Children and young people should be educated that if they want to grow up to be healthy, able, confident and cool adults, free from long-term illness and heart disease, they ought to be getting their five a day to ensure they’re getting all the vitamins and minerals their growing bodies need.”