In Nairobi’s informal settlements, teenagers know healthy eating matters—but poverty and limited food choices keep balanced diets out of reach.

At Tropentag 2025, Chiara Masser from Justus Liebig University Giessen presented striking new evidence on what shapes adolescent diets in urban informal settlements. Her study of 551 adolescents in Viwandani, Nairobi, delivers a sobering message:

Knowledge and good intentions alone cannot put nutritious food on the table.

A Growing Body, an Empty Plate

Adolescence is a critical window for growth. The body demands more nutrients than ever before—yet most young people in the study are falling far short. The average Global Diet Quality Score (GDQS) was only 11.6 out of 49, and nearly three-quarters of participants were classified as high risk for poor diet quality.

What does that mean in daily life? Diets dominated by refined grains and baked goods—cheap, filling, but nutrient-poor. Meanwhile, fruits, vegetables, and animal proteins were rarely consumed, leaving teenagers vulnerable to both nutrient deficiencies today and diet-related diseases tomorrow.

The average Global Diet Quality Score (GDQS) was only 11.6 out of 49, and nearly three-quarters of participants were classified as high risk for poor diet quality.

The Paradox of Knowledge and Action

So, what stood out as the strongest driver of diet quality? Household income. Adolescents from better-off households could afford more diverse and nutritious foods, whereas those in poorer households were often limited to monotonous, less healthy diets. The education level of household heads, surprisingly, was not a decisive factor.

This finding highlights a broader challenge. Improving knowledge is important, but without financial means, adolescents simply cannot act on what they know.

Pathways Forward

Addressing this challenge calls for solutions that combine education, access, and affordability:

• School feeding programs that go beyond filling bellies to provide diverse, nutrient-rich foods.
• Targeted nutrition education, with a stronger focus on overconsumption risks and long-term health outcomes.
• Economic empowerment, ensuring families have the income security needed to choose healthier foods.

Why It Matters

As Africa’s cities continue to grow, adolescent nutrition in informal settlements is becoming a public health priority. Masser’s findings are a reminder:

Fighting malnutrition takes more than advice—it requires policies and programs that bridge the gap between knowledge, affordability, and access.

Because when adolescents thrive, so do the communities they will one day lead!