20 Nov Teens: Too Much Fast Food, Not Enough Greens
New research shows most teenagers are stuck in a cycle of poor diet, low activity, and too much screen time – but parents can help turn things around.
Too Much Fast Food, Not Enough Greens
When a cheeseburger costs less than a punnet of strawberries, it’s no wonder healthy choices are getting harder – especially for teenagers.
New research from the University of South Australia has revealed that most teens are forming clusters of poor lifestyle habits that could set them up for serious health problems later in life.
After studying data from nearly 300,000 teens (aged 12–17) across 73 countries, researchers found that:
- 85% don’t get enough exercise
- 80% don’t eat enough fruit and vegetables
- 50% regularly eat fast food
- 39% drink too many soft drinks
- 32% spend excessive time on screens
Overall, more than 92% of teenagers had two or more unhealthy habits, increasing their risk of chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
Habits Form Early – and Last a Lifetime
Lead researcher Dr Ming Li says the teenage years are a crucial period for setting up lifelong health routines.
“The teenage years are a critical window for growth and development – physically, mentally, and emotionally,” Dr Li explains. “But with junk food everywhere and so much time spent on screens, more teens are falling into multiple unhealthy patterns that could have long-term consequences.”
The research also found that teens in higher-income countries – including Australia – tend to report more unhealthy behaviours than those in lower-income regions.
What Parents Can Do
While the findings sound grim, there’s good news too. The study found several protective factors that can reduce risky behaviours:
✅ Supportive families – Teens who feel supported at home are 16% less likely to have four or more unhealthy habits.
✅ Positive friendships – Supportive peers reduce risk by 4%.
✅ Food security – Having regular access to nutritious food lowers risk by 9%.
Parents can make a difference by:
- Encouraging daily movement – even walking or riding to school counts.
- Making fruit and veggies easy options at home.
- Setting reasonable screen limits (and leading by example).
- Talking openly about healthy choices, without guilt or pressure.
A Call for Bigger Change
Dr Li says it’s not just up to families – communities and governments also need to make healthy living easier for young people.
“We need better school-based activity programs, urban spaces that are safe for teens to be active, affordable healthy food options, and limits on junk food marketing to kids,” she says.
“Ultimately, good health shouldn’t depend on privilege or willpower – it should be the easy choice.”
The University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide are joining forces to become Australia’s new major university, Adelaide University, in January 2026. Find out more on the Adelaide University website.
