BHF calls for action on poor teenage diets

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has called on the government to do more to address the persistently poor diets of teenagers across the UK.

Data from the Department of Health's National Diet and Nutrition Survey shows 11 to 18-year-old boys consume an average of three portions of fruit and vegetables a day, while girls consume 2.8 portions on average.

Only 11 percent of boys and eight percent of girls get their recommended five-a-day intake, while excessive consumption of saturated fat was observed across all age groups.

BHF dietitian Tracy Parker said more must be done to address this issue, such as the introduction of traffic light colours on all food labels to make it easier to identify healthy foods.

She added: "Fruit and vegetables help young minds and bodies develop and should be an integral part of any teenager's diet."

This comes after the charity warned earlier this week that childhood obesity is frequently linked with having at least one risk factor for heart disease.