As ActionAid's snapshot reveals, food poverty among teenagers is not just a matter of food availability, but of relationships, identity and the ability to choose.

Some avoid invitations so as not to "burden" others, while others skip meals to leave food for younger siblings: ActionAid has captured a picture of food poverty among teenagers, focusing in particular on how it affects social relationships.

The qualitative research, titled "Il malessere invisibile di non poter scegliere" (The invisible discomfort of having no choice), was conducted together with the Università degli Studi di Milano and Percorsi di secondo welfare, as part of the DisPARI project — Disentangling inequality and food poverty amongst adolescents: concepts, measures and local action strategies — which analyses the links between food poverty and inequality with a focus on teenagers. Food poverty is, in fact, both a cause and a consequence of social inequality: the inability to access adequate nutrition generates a vicious cycle that affects physical, cognitive and emotional wellbeing.

Through a series of interviews, the study gives voice to a sample of teenagers from Milano, Roma and Napoli, who recount silent sacrifices and emotional deprivations. It is not merely a question of food availability and price, but of relationships, identity, mental health and — above all — freedom of choice. The focus shifts from "how much one eats" to the actual ability to choose what, how, when and with whom to eat. When choice is absent, distress translates into social exclusion and a loss of dignity, with repercussions on self-esteem and psychological wellbeing.

"When you give up a pizza with friends or turn down an invitation out of shame at having to admit you can't afford it, it's not just a sacrifice — it's a fracture in one's social life that can leave lasting marks on the dignity and psychological wellbeing of young people," explained Monica Palladino, curator of the qualitative research for DisPARI.

Food poverty is not just an empty plate: it is the absence of freedom to choose what to eat, when, how and with whom.

This reality is also confirmed by the quantitative data from a national survey conducted in parallel with Webboh Lab: food poverty is a concrete and pressing problem for teenagers. Nearly 3 in 10 teenagers perceive that there are people in their area who do not have enough to eat, while 73 per cent believe that not everyone in Italy has equal access to a healthy diet.

"The survey brings the direct voice of Generation Z on what food poverty means today. What emerges above all is the perception of a close and concrete phenomenon with a strong social and emotional dimension, in which shame and stigma weigh more heavily than mere scarcity," said Furio Camillo, professor of Economic Statistics at UniBo and Scientific Director of Webboh-LAB. Social media further amplifies the pressure: 41 per cent feel pushed to buy advertised foods, while 35 per cent experience discomfort when comparing what they eat with what others post online.

To genuinely support teenagers, it is necessary to go beyond simply distributing food; initiatives already in place — such as inclusive school canteens and neighbourhood projects — show that involving schools, families and communities gives young people an active role and a space for growth. Emergency food assistance remains essential, but risks becoming permanent and entrenching inequalities. The real innovation lies in transforming it into opportunity and inclusion, through interventions capable of addressing the multiple dimensions of food poverty — which affects not only those living in severe deprivation — and of promoting overall wellbeing.

"Structural social protection policies are needed — covering income, housing, decent work and essential services — alongside universal school canteens and food policies capable of guaranteeing everyone access to adequate, quality food," said Roberto Sensi, head of the Food Poverty Programme for ActionAid Italia. "On the ground there are significant examples of solidarity and innovation, but it is not enough to strengthen assistance networks: we need a stronger welfare system, one capable of guaranteeing rights and not merely responding to needs."

According to data from ActionAid's latest report on food poverty, "Fragili equilibri", in 2023 nearly 6 million people over the age of 16 in Italy experienced food deprivation — 680,000 more than the previous year. More than 60 per cent do not fall within Istat's poverty thresholds, yet live in situations of fragility or precariousness. Food poverty in Italy is not limited to severe destitution: it also affects those who fall outside official statistics, those not classified as at-risk groups, and those not reached by the welfare system. Even on a monthly income of 2,000 euros, ActionAid notes, some families are forced to cut back on food.