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Shock Study Finds Crisps Replace Fruit in Teen Diets

Posted on: Wednesday, 4 May 2005, 09:00 CDT

MORE than a quarter of Edinburgh's young people eat only one piece of fruit and one portion of vegetables a week, a comprehensive government- commissioned report reveals.

The latest statistics from a survey into the diets of 13- and 15- year-olds show a shocking diet full of junk food, lacking in nutritious content.

The report found that 39 per cent of second and fourth-year pupils in the capital eat sweets and chocolate at least once a day or more, while almost one in four chooses to gorge on cakes and biscuits daily.

Crisps are also shown to be a big part of the diet, with more than a third eating the fat-laden snack at least once a day.

At least 45 per cent of the teenagers then wash it all down with a glass of Coke once a day or more.

A British Dietetic Association spokeswoman said everybody should be aiming to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day.

"I am concerned about the very low level of fruit and vegetables being consumed by Edinburgh teenagers," she said.

"It is not just fresh fruit and vegetables that count. Frozen sweetcorn, tinned baked beans, pure fruit juice and a packet of dried raisins along with an apple or portion of, for example, broccoli would achieve the five-a-day target.

"The cakes, chocolate and crisps consumption levels are also of serious concern because they contribute towards saturated fat levels in the diet."

The spokeswoman added: "Drinking fizzy drinks can have a detrimental and damaging effect on teeth and it would be far preferable to drink water or milk."

The Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey 2002 is the official diet guide of Scotland's young people for the Scottish Executive, which uses the information to monitor and help plan government policies.

It was compiled by academics at the child and adolescent health research unit at the University of Edinburgh using a questionnaire which was completed by 1,800 pupils attending 25 schools across the city.

Dympna Pearson, a former chairwoman of Dieticians in Obesity Management, said she was "extremely worried" about the latest figures.

"These statistics are horrifying and go some way to explain the health problems we have as a society.

"It's not just obesity that is the problem, but people's general health. The foods which were seen as a treat in the past are now being consumed daily and are actually replacing a good balanced diet, which is extremely worrying, as we are storing up serious health problems for the future.

"Also, the Coke statistics are terrible, as not only will it be rotting the children's teeth, but it will be filling them up so that they don't feel hungry when it comes to eating more nutritious foods."

Ms Pearson added: "We have got a big problem on our hands if children are eating like these statistics show. We can't expect our children to change their diets unless their environment changes, so it is the responsibility of our society to help them choose more sensible options."

Source: Scotsman, The

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