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Background <p>The consumption of unhealthy food has increased substantially among children and adolescents across the globe. This umbrella review aims to synthesize meta-analyses that assess unhealthy food consumption and mental health outcomes in children and adolescents.</p> Methods <p>The protocol was pre-registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023475965). We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, and CINAHL from inception through January 2025 for meta-analyses that estimated associations between unhealthy food exposures and mental health in children and adolescents (&lt; 19 years). Exposures included ultra-processed food (UPF), junk food, World Health Organization unhealthy food indicators (e.g., sweets), and Western dietary pattern. Extracted meta-analyses were replicated, re-evaluated for credibility, and assessed for methodological quality.</p> Results <p>With a sum total sample size of 2,526,232, our search yielded 15 pooled estimates. Convincing evidence (Class I) linked higher UPF consumption to short sleep duration (odds ratio = 1.30, 95% CI [1.26, 1.33]) and insomnia (odds ratio = 1.47, 95% CI [1.37, 1.57]). Highly suggestive evidence (Class II) related higher UPF consumption to poor sleep quality (odds ratio = 1.53, 95% CI [1.46, 1.60]), and common mental disorders (odds ratio = 1.53, 95% CI [1.44, 1.63]), and higher junk food consumption to depression (odds ratio = 1.62, 95% CI [1.39, 1.90]). Suggestive (Class III) or weak (Class IV) evidence related junk food to anxiety and stress, and junk food, sweets, and Western dietary patterns to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Associations with sleep dissatisfaction and happiness were not statistically significant.</p> Conclusion <p>Findings suggest that children and adolescents who eat more unhealthy food tend to have poorer mental health. Nutrition-based interventions should prioritize children and adolescents since this population may be particularly susceptible to diet-related poor mental health. Further causal-inference studies should evaluate whether lowering consumption improves youth mental health.</p>

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Association between unhealthy food consumption and mental health outcomes in children and adolescents: an umbrella review

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月2日

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  • Clayton Ulm,
  • Frantasia Hill,
  • Sarah D. Mills,
  • Carolyn Chelius,
  • Eric M. Hecht

摘要

Background

The consumption of unhealthy food has increased substantially among children and adolescents across the globe. This umbrella review aims to synthesize meta-analyses that assess unhealthy food consumption and mental health outcomes in children and adolescents.

Methods

The protocol was pre-registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023475965). We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, and CINAHL from inception through January 2025 for meta-analyses that estimated associations between unhealthy food exposures and mental health in children and adolescents (< 19 years). Exposures included ultra-processed food (UPF), junk food, World Health Organization unhealthy food indicators (e.g., sweets), and Western dietary pattern. Extracted meta-analyses were replicated, re-evaluated for credibility, and assessed for methodological quality.

Results

With a sum total sample size of 2,526,232, our search yielded 15 pooled estimates. Convincing evidence (Class I) linked higher UPF consumption to short sleep duration (odds ratio = 1.30, 95% CI [1.26, 1.33]) and insomnia (odds ratio = 1.47, 95% CI [1.37, 1.57]). Highly suggestive evidence (Class II) related higher UPF consumption to poor sleep quality (odds ratio = 1.53, 95% CI [1.46, 1.60]), and common mental disorders (odds ratio = 1.53, 95% CI [1.44, 1.63]), and higher junk food consumption to depression (odds ratio = 1.62, 95% CI [1.39, 1.90]). Suggestive (Class III) or weak (Class IV) evidence related junk food to anxiety and stress, and junk food, sweets, and Western dietary patterns to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Associations with sleep dissatisfaction and happiness were not statistically significant.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that children and adolescents who eat more unhealthy food tend to have poorer mental health. Nutrition-based interventions should prioritize children and adolescents since this population may be particularly susceptible to diet-related poor mental health. Further causal-inference studies should evaluate whether lowering consumption improves youth mental health.