New study shows major diet inequities among New Zealand adolescents

A new study has found that many New Zealand adolescents are eating diets high in sugar, salt and unhealthy fats, with young people in more vulnerable circumstances most affected.

Published on 18 November in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention &Health, the research analysed data from more than 4,000 12-year-olds taking part in the Growing Up in New Zealand study, the country’s largest and most diverse longitudinal study of child development. It provides the most up-to-date national insight into adolescents’ diet quality in more than two decades.

Researchers identified two broad dietary patterns among the young people. One, high in refined foods and foods high in sugar, salt and unhealthy fats; the other with higher intakes of core food groups such as fruit, vegetables, protein foods, dairy ,and breads and cereals.

The study found significant ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in diet quality.

·        Those from food-insecure households were more likely to follow a dietary pattern high in refined foods and foods high in sugar,  salt and unhealthy fats compared with those from food-secure homes.

·        Adolescents living in rural areas were less likely to follow the dietary pattern high in refined foods and foods high in sugar, salt and unhealthy fats than those living in urban areas.

·        Pacific, Māori and Asian young people were more likely to follow the refined, high in sugar, salt and fat dietary pattern when compared to European adolescents.

Professor Clare Wall, Head of the Department of Nutrition &Dietetics at the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences and one of the study’s authors, said the findings highlight deep inequities in the food environment facing young people.

“Our research shows that access to healthy, affordable food is not equal across Aotearoa. Adolescents living in more vulnerable conditions have fewer opportunities to eat well, and that has lifelong consequences for health.”

Co-author Senior Research Fellow Teresa Gontijo de Castro, also from the Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, said the study adds to growing evidence for stronger national action.

“Access to nutritious food shouldn’t depend on where you live or how much you earn. Policy changes are vital to make nutritious food the easy, affordable choice for every young person in New Zealand.”

The researchers are calling for government-led measures to improve the food environment and reduce disparities, including:

• Expanding the Ka Ora, Ka Ako / Healthy School Lunches programme.

• Establishing mandatory restrictions on the marketing of unhealthy foods to children.

• Establishing mandatory rules to limit the availability of unhealthy foods, including the display of the front-of-pack labelling in all packaged foods sold.

• Improving theaffordability of healthy foods and fresh produce.

“If we want to improve young people’s health and wellbeing, we must start by improving the food environments they grow up in. Ensuring all young people can access nutritious food is one of the most effective investments we can make in Aotearoa’s future,” said Dr Gontijo de Castro.

Visiting professor at the University of Auckland, Luciana Tomita (Federal University of Sao Paulo-Brazil)was the lead author of this paper. Her visit to New Zealand was funded by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES-Print-Brazil).

Read the full paper here https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjnph-2025-001315

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