4 Troubled Teens Blog

A British study found that people who eat junk food are more likely to be depressed. Though the study focused on adults, the results could bode ill for young people who are developing poor eating habits.

• Dr. Archana Singh-Manoux and her colleagues studied more than 3,500 middle-aged people, dividing them into two groups.
• The first group ate a diet of wholesome foods, such as fruits, vegetables and fish.
• The second group ate a diet of mainly processed foods, such as fried foods, processed meats and desserts.
• People in the second group had a 58 percent higher risk for depression.

Dr. Singh-Manoux reported being unsure if this finding could be explained by some other lifestyle factors not considered in the study, which appears in the British Journal of Psychiatry.

Labels: depression, diet, nutrition

Posted By: Aspen/CRC 0 Comments

Their names say it all: "Full Throttle," "Amp," and "Redline." Energy drinks are all the rage among teenagers and young adults. There has long been a concern about the health risks associated with these high caffeine drinks, but now there is another concern - risky behavior.

"In March, The Journal of American College Health published a report on the link between energy drinks, athletics, and risky behavior. The study's author, Kathleen Miller... says it suggests that high consumption of energy drinks is associated with 'toxic jock' behavior, a constellation of risky and aggressive behaviors including unprotected sex, substance abuse, and violence."

The findings don't mean that the drinks cause bad behavior, but rather that regular consumption may be an indicator for parents and teachers of children who are more inclined toward taking risks. Source: International Herald Tribune

Labels: risky_behaviors, nutrition, caffeine

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

Boys who eat more fish than average are less likely to be depressed, according to a new study from Japan.

• Researchers studied 3,067 boys and 3,450 girls ages 12 to 15 years old.
• Based on their scores on a scale from the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression, 22% of the boys and 31% of the girls were depressed.
• Having a diet high in fish provided some protection to boys against being depressed, but the same was not true for girls.

The study was published in the journal Pediatrics.

Labels: depression, diet, nutrition, boys

Posted By: Jane St. Clair 0 Comments