Children feel healthier and are more active since the return to school, research finds
A new survey from the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) has revealed that 50 per cent of primary school children and 26 per cent of secondary school students say that they feel better or healthier now that they are back at school, while 27 per cent of adults say they feel more healthy since lockdown restrictions were eased (July) compared with during the lockdown that started in March this year.
The analysis of how the healthy eating habits and physical activity levels of both children and adults have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, throughout the lockdown and now in the recent period of eased restrictions was conducted as part of BNF Healthy Eating Week 2020 (28 September to 4 October).
Over half (56 per cent) of primary school children and exactly half (50 per cent) of secondary school students surveyed say that they are more active now that they are back at school. Only 11 per cent of primary school children and secondary school students say that they are now less active than before they went back to school. However, almost one third (29 per cent) of adults state they are less active now than before lockdown started in March.
The survey also indicates the extent to which adults and secondary school children have turned to ‘comfort’ foods and drinks throughout the pandemic.
Nearly half (46 per cent) of adults and 43 per cent of secondary school students say that they have consumed more chocolate when feeling tired, stressed, bored or anxious throughout the Covid-19 outbreak.
41 per cent of adults and 35 per cent of secondary school students have consumed more cakes or biscuits; 33 per cent of adults and 41 per cent of secondary school students have eaten more crisps; and 13 per cent of adults and 28 per cent of secondary school students have drunk more sugary drinks. Well over a third (35 per cent) of all adults say that they have consumed more alcohol when feeling tired, stressed, bored or anxious during the pandemic.
In contrast, 37 per cent of secondary students and 18 per cent of adults report eating more fruit, and 21 per cent of secondary students and 12 per cent of adults report eating more vegetables when feeling tired, stressed, bored or anxious.
Sara Stanner, science director at BNF said: “The unprecedented effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on our lives have challenged all of us so it’s great to see our survey suggest that many children are feeling healthier and are more active now they are getting back to school. However, it’s not surprising that many adults and secondary students have been reaching for less healthy foods when tired, stressed or anxious.”
One of the BNF Healthy Eating Week challenges is to ‘Eat more wholegrains’. The BNF survey suggests that knowledge of what wholegrain foods are among both children and adults is varied. The BNF Healthy Eating Week also highlights the value of including a variety of different fruits and vegetables in the diet.