by Derrick K. Mobley Md
Part 1 of this article was shared in the Tuesday, March 26, 2024, edition of ScoopUSA Media–you can read the article on scoopnewsusa.com.
Impact on Public Health and Safety
The connection between food quality and violence in adolescents has profound implications for public health and safety in our city and throughout the nation. It underscores the importance of addressing nutritional deficiencies and promoting healthy eating habits as part of a broader violence prevention strategy that may include background checks, banning assault weapons, firearm safety instruction, and limiting gun access. Moreover, it highlights the need for local, state, and federal government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and the business community to find approaches that consider the relationship of nutritional, psychological, political, and social factors in shaping adolescent behavior and reducing violent crime in this population.
Strategies for Intervention
A multi-faceted approach is necessary to lessen the impact of unhealthy food consumption on violent behavior in adolescents:
First, we must improve access to quality food and provide education about healthy eating to school-aged children. Implementing programs that educate adolescents and their families about the importance of minimizing ultra-processed food consumption and improving access to healthy foods can help toward optimizing diet quality. School-based interventions, such as providing healthy meals and snacks, can play a crucial role. One such healthy snack company run by Philadelphia students is Rebel Ventures, based in West Philadelphia.
Secondly, we must address the underlying mental health issues of adolescents and provide support for stress and anxiety that can reduce the likelihood of aggression and violence. Adolescents from marginalized communities have a higher level of distress related to various forms of trauma. Integrating mental health services with nutritional support can offer a more holistic approach to preventing, treating, and sometimes reversing mental health disorders.
Lastly, we need to provide community-based programs that provide safe spaces and constructive activities for adolescents to assist with reducing violence. Philadelphia has numerous recreational centers that are underutilized, and could be used to provide safe venues for adolescents to learn about nutrition, distribute healthy food and potentially serve as community indoor/outdoor gardens. At the policy level, initiatives to address food insecurity and promote public health nutrition are essential.
The relationship between food quality and violence in adolescents highlights the connections between mental health, physical health, and violent behavior. By acknowledging and addressing the role of healthy food in adolescent development and behavior, Philadelphia can take a significant step toward reducing violence and fostering a healthier, more peaceful future for our youth. Engaging in collaborative efforts that combine nutrition education, access to healthy foods, mental health support, and community engagement can pave the way for positive change toward reducing the gun violence that is overwhelming our city and, more importantly, ensure that the adolescents of tomorrow will have the healthy brains needed to manage stressors and resolve conflicts non-violently.
Sources:
Lifestyle Psychiatry Through the Lens of Behavioral Medicine, Gia Merlo, MD, MBA, Med; Christopher P. Fagundes, PhD, 2024
Choy, O. & Raine, A. (2018). Omega-3 supplementation as a dietary intervention to reduce aggressive and antisocial behavior. Current Psychiatry Reports, 20, 32.
Front. Psychiatry, 20 June 2023 Sec. Forensic Psychiatry Volume 14 – 2023
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