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As highlighted in the collection,4 opportunities for addressing the health and nutrition of adolescents are plentiful and it is time for concerted action in the region. The global evidence on effective interventions to meet adolescent nutritional needs is strong and underscores the importance of addressing social determinants and entrenched gender inequities, as well as direct nutrition interventions through appropriate supplementation and fortification strategies.10 The best strategy to reach adolescents, especially younger adolescent girls, is through a continuum of services using school health and community platforms,11 12 emphasising the need for cross sectoral initiatives involving health and education services as well as social protection programmes.

rtification strategies.10 The best strategy to reach adolescents, especially younger adolescent girls, is through a continuum of services using school health and community platforms,11 12 emphasising the need for cross sectoral initiatives involving health and education services as well as social protection programmes. The policy and regulatory frameworks affecting food environments and exposure to inappropriate marketing of ultraprocessed foods are fast emerging as public health priorities in developing economies, and with the rapid rise in access to mobile phones and social media influences, adolescents face additional risks globally.13 Adolescent health and nutrition services therefore have to be protected from the undue influences of a largely unregulated private sector and egregious marketing strategies. Banning mobile phone use for children and adolescents in schools is one such measure. Although a ban is extreme, evidence is growing that reducing screen time improves physical activity and reduces sedentary behaviours, all essential for preventing overweight and obesity among adolescents globally.14 Robust research is also needed to fill several gaps related to epidemiology, information on drivers, and the links between adolescent nutrition, mental health, and environmental factors.

physical activity and reduces sedentary behaviours, all essential for preventing overweight and obesity among adolescents globally.14 Robust research is also needed to fill several gaps related to epidemiology, information on drivers, and the links between adolescent nutrition, mental health, and environmental factors. These measures by national governments need to be complemented by strategies at regional level and concerted oversight by agencies such as Unicef and the World Health Organization. The efforts of the Unicef Regional Office for South Asia to highlight the need for a holistic strategy for addressing adolescent health and nutrition, especially for girls, are laudable and must now be followed up by action within countries, as well as monitoring and evaluation platforms with consistent tracking of indicators and targets. As indicated, these require action across various sectors and not just health departments or programmes. Addressing social and commercial determinants of adolescent health and nutrition consistently across the region must become a policy and programme imperative.15 Several global meetings this year, such as the Nutrition for Growth Summit in March 2025 and Scaling Up Nutrition in November, offer an opportunity for spurring action.