Navigating the Intersection of Mental Health and Nutrition in Adolescent Girls: Addressing the Dual Challenge – A short Review

Abstract

Adolescent girls are especially vulnerable to the twin threats of nutritional inadequacy and mental illness, an interactive effect that has long-term consequences for physical and psychological development. Nutrient deficiencies, particularly in iron, zinc, vitamin D, and common B-vitamins, not only impact growth and immune functioning but also compromise susceptibility to mood disorders, anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairment. Simultaneously, mental health conditions influence feeding patterns, e.g., inadequate nutrient consumption, infrequent or irregular meal frequency, or food restriction and disordered eating, which contribute additional nutrient deficiencies, perpetuating a vicious risk cycle. This review critically examines the complex interaction between nutrition and mental health in adolescent girls, the physiological, neurocognitive, and psychosocial mechanisms linking deficits to psychological outcomes. The article also identifies contextual influences like socio-economic status, cultural norms, and environmental stressors that may magnify vulnerability. Comprehensive strategies that integrate special nutrition interventions such as micronutrient supplementation, dietary diversification, and fortified foods with mental health support activities are recommended to develop resilience, improve cognitive capacity, and general wellbeing. By addressing both nutrition and mental health simultaneously, such strategies aim to mitigate long-term developmental, educational, and health consequences and instead promote adolescent girls to attain their optimal growth and psychological well-being at this critical stage of life.