Extra fruit linked to lower teen depression risk as solitary eating raises wider concerns

A four-year study of more than 6,500 Australian teenagers found lower rates of depressive and anxiety symptoms among those eating more fruit, while sugary drinks were linked to poorer outcomes.

A new University of Sydney study has added to growing evidence that diet can be linked to teenage mental health. According to the university, an extra daily serving of fruit was associated with a lower risk of symptoms of depression and anxiety among adolescents, while higher consumption of sugary drinks was tied to a greater risk of both conditions.

The research, published in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, followed 6,537 teenagers from 71 secondary schools in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia for four years. Participants were around 12.5 years old at the start, and the study excluded those who already showed high levels of depression or anxiety symptoms at baseline. The researchers also took account of physical activity, age, sex and socio-economic status.

The findings suggest that each additional serving of fruit a day was linked with a 13% lower risk of depressive symptoms and a 7% lower risk of anxiety symptoms. By contrast, greater intake of sugar-sweetened drinks, including soft drinks, cordials and sports drinks, was associated with worse mental health outcomes. The relationship was seen in both sexes, but it appeared stronger in boys, particularly for anxiety.

The study’s authors said the results support wider efforts to make nutritious food more affordable and accessible, while reducing young people’s exposure to sugary drinks. Their conclusions align with earlier research suggesting that everyday habits can shape mental wellbeing during adolescence, even if the evidence does not prove cause and effect.

The broader question of how eating patterns affect mental health has also drawn attention internationally. Research cited by VietnamPlus points to studies linking frequent solitary meals with lower life satisfaction, poorer diet quality and higher depression risk. A 2025 World Happiness Report analysis of more than 150,000 people in 142 countries found that those who regularly ate with others reported greater life satisfaction, more positive feelings and fewer negative emotions.

That report also found that countries where people shared meals more often tended to have slightly higher life satisfaction scores, while the association between communal eating and positive feelings was especially clear among younger adults. A separate US study of about 235,000 adults found that the share of people who ate all meals alone rose by more than half between 2003 and 2023, reaching 26%, with the sharpest increase among adults aged 25 to 34.

Merav Chen, a neurologist with Israel’s Clalit health system, told TTXVN in Israel that shared meals do more than provide nourishment because they also create space for conversation and social connection. She said the absence of those interactions can deepen loneliness and raise the risk of depression, while stressing that eating alone does not automatically mean someone is lonely or unwell.

Experts caution that the current evidence shows associations rather than proof that eating alone directly causes depression, cognitive decline or other health problems. Even so, the findings suggest that shared meals may be worth paying attention to as part of mental health care, particularly for older adults and people at risk of social isolation.