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Round-up: Five reasons periods need to be part of adolescent nutrition conversations
May 27, 2025
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Story
Five times adolescent nutrition made a difference for girls
From peer-led programs to policy shifts, here are five examples of how adolescent nutrition programs are essential for girls to build knowledge, make their voices heard and grow into their full potential.
Posted on October 9, 2025
Anaemia. It affects nearly one in three women of reproductive age and it’s holding girls back. But it doesn’t need to.
Across the globe, girls are stepping into their future with an improved sense of awareness about their own health and nutrition. In populations where iron-deficiency anaemia is high, access to weekly iron and folic acid supplementation (WIFAS), paired with nutrition education, can meaningfully support adolescent girls to get the nutrients they need and better understand their development. At Nutrition International, we’re proud to partner with governments and local organizations to bring this critical work to life.
Below, we share five examples of how adolescent nutrition programs are shaping lives and shifting attitudes so girls can show up, be present and take charge.
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When peer-led nutrition builds confidence and community
What happens when girls lead? In Madhya Pradesh, India, student “health and wellness messengers” are helping classmates understand anaemia and the importance of weekly iron and folic acid supplements. These peer educators are not only improving health outcomes—they’re building leadership and trust among their peers.
Read how Sanjana is making a difference
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Because media matters when girls’ health is on the line
Changing the narrative around adolescent nutrition is impacted by the stories we tell. Through the African Union Media Fellowship, journalists like Adesewa Olofinko are spotlighting the challenges girls face and the solutions that work. Her reporting from West Africa shows how journalism can elevate adolescent health on the continental agenda.
Explore Adesewa’s reporting
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Tausi participates in peer-to-peer sesssions. Topics cover adolescent nutrition, SRH, life skills, gender-based violence, sexually transmitted diseases and family planning. How social protection programs can unlock nutrition equity
In Pakistan, a pilot project is supporting adolescent girls through the country’s leading social safety net program. The Social Protection Adolescent Nutrition (SOPRAN) project is helping girls improve their health through WIFAS and nutrition education.
Learn how SOPRAN is shaping nutrition access
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By following a rights-based approach
Nutrition and sexual and reproductive health are deeply connected. In Tanzania’s Tabora region, the Building Rights for Improved Girls’ Health in Tanzania (BRIGHT) project is helping adolescent girls exercise their rights through youth-led, feminist programming. By tackling topics like gender-based violence, early marriage and anaemia together, BRIGHT is creating space for girls to learn and grow in a supportive environment.
Meet Tausi and learn about BRIGHT
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When using a multisectoral approach in complex settings
In Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, adolescent girls like Tumpa are stepping up as “nutrition friends” in their schools and communities. The Adopting a Multisectoral Approach to Nutrition (AMAN) project helped girls access the knowledge and nutrition needed to stay in school and dream big.
Discover Tumpa’s journey
Adolescent nutrition is connected to access, equity and agency. Whether through peer networks, policy shifts or supportive community-led programs, the impact is clear: when nutrition is prioritized, girls are better equipped to learn and lead.
Learn more about work in adolescent nutrition.
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