Abstract
Mental illnesses are prevalent among children and adolescents worldwide and may be associated with food consumption. This protocol aims to evaluate the association between food consumption and mental health in children and adolescents through a systematic review and meta-analysis. The electronic search will include keywords related to childhood, adolescence, mental health issues (e.g., anxiety, stress, depression), and food consumption (e.g., in natura or minimally processed foods and ultra-processed foods ultra-processed foods), verified using MeSH terms. The systematic review will follow the PRISMA-2020 guidelines, employing the PECOS strategy, and will include quantitative observational and mixed-methods studies. A search will be conducted in the following databases: Scopus, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, LILACS, Web of Science, APA-PsycArticles, PubMed/Medline, and EMBASE. Identifying the association between mental health and food consumption will contribute to the development of preventive and intervention strategies aimed at improving the health and well-being of children and adolescents. The analysis of the data will provide results on how psychological factors are linked to the consumption of various food groups, implying the updating of public policies. These guidelines can assist managers and researchers in creating effective interventions to promote mental health and healthy eating behaviors, ultimately leading to long-term positive impacts on public health.