An additional serving of fruit a day reduced the risk of depression by 13% and anxiety by 7% among adolescents over three years, an Australian study has shown.

Higher consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages was associated with a greater risk of both depression and anxiety over time for adolescents, with the association stronger for anxiety onset among males.   

The longitudinal study, published in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, followed 6537 adolescent participants with a mean age of 12.65 and without a common mental health disorder (CMD) at baseline across three years.

Participants completed online surveys at baseline, as well as at one, two and three years post-baseline.