Food and Dietary Behaviour among Adolescents in Bradford, England: Evidence from the Born in Bradford Age of Wonder Study

<ns3:p>Diet plays an important role in healthy development in adolescence and later in life. We described quantitative and qualitative data regarding food and dietary behaviour in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 rounds of ‘Born in Bradford: Age of Wonder’, a longitudinal study of secondary school pupils in Years 8, 9 and 10 across Bradford district. Particular attention is given to fruit and vegetable intake, breakfast and fast-food consumption and consumption of energy and high-sugar drinks. 13,143 students aged 12–15 completed questions on food and dietary behaviour (median age 13.9 years; 36.9.% Pakistani heritage; 33.4% White British; 59.7% living in the most deprived quintile). Overall, 19.4% of participants ate two or more servings of fruit daily; 20.3% ate two or more servings of vegetables daily; breakfast was eaten every day by 38.9% of participants; 1.7% of respondents ate fast food every day; 9.7% of participants consumed sugary drinks every day and 6.1% consumed energy drinks every day. Notable sub-group differences were present, for example, female and older participants reported less frequent breakfast consumption compared to their male and younger counterparts, while Pakistani participants reported more daily consumption of fast foods compared to White British participants. Qualitative data suggest that adolescent diet is shaped by an interplay of peer norms, cultural food practices, parental influence and affordability.</ns3:p>