Obesity In Young People, UK

Main Category: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Article Date: 24 Jan 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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Research into childhood obesity in Leicestershire secondary schools and the factors that deter young people from adopting healthy lifestyles concluded that the influence of peer pressure, cost of healthy foods, taste and hunger satisfaction and image proved to be a formidable barrier to the wholesale adoption of healthier ways of eating and exercising among young people.

The research, led by University of Leicester Professor of Primary Care Diabetes and Vascular Medicine Kamlesh Khunti, was conducted against the background of knowledge that escalating rates of childhood obesity are likely to have an impact on the incidence of coronary heart disease and type-2 diabetes. It is funded by the British Heart Foundation and has been published in the Journal of Public Health.

Researchers established partnerships with five schools in inner-city areas serving a predominantly South Asian population and monitored diet and physical activity. People of South Asian origin living in Western countries are at greater risk of developing type-2 diabetes and coronary heart disease due to higher levels of insulin resistance, which may begin in childhood.

Researchers found that, although pupils had some basic knowledge of what constitutes a healthy lifestyle, they only gave a low priority to its impact on their health.

School staff also cited factors such as poor PE facilities, competition from local food retailers and the intensity of the national curriculum as having a negative effect on pupils' lifestyle.

Pupils with limited money to spend on food seemed reluctant to try new foods and saw less healthy options such as chips as better value for money than fruit in terms of satisfying their hunger.

Playing sports proved generally more popular among boys than girls, while those whose religious commitments included attending evening faith schools had less time available for physical activity.

Identifying ways to reverse this proved difficult in all participating schools and the changes resulting from the research partnerships therefore proved to be quite modest. School meal providers made some changes and vending machines were removed. Salt was reduced, 'no chip days' and combination meals including healthy items were introduced.

Lifestyle messages were also incorporated into project work, for example in languages and mathematics.

Incentives to take up more physical exercise proved even more elusive. But some initiatives did take off, including dance sessions to attract girls and stamped 'passports', with prizes for those who made healthier food choices or participated in extra-curricular physical activities.

Professor Khunti commented: "Worryingly, pupils' lifestyle habits remained poor even after the project had ended. All the same, some limited changes did take place. Dietary habits did improve and more pupils began to take up physical activity. Teaching staff felt that the project had raised awareness and focused efforts on improving lifestyle choices."

University Of Leicester

A member of the 1994 Group of universities that share a commitment to research excellence, high quality teaching and an outstanding student experience.

- Ranked top for student satisfaction in England (jointly with Oxford) among mainstream universities (average score of 4.4 out of 5 for overall satisfaction)

- Ranked as a Top 20 university by The Sunday Times University Guide, The Guardian University Guide and the UK Good University Guide

- One of just 23 UK universities to feature in world's top 200- Shanghai Jiao Tong International Index, 2005-07.

- Ranked in top 200 world universities by the THES (Times Higher Education Supplement)

- Short listed University of the Year in 2007 by The Sunday Times and Short listed Higher Education Institution of the Year - THES awards 2005 and 2006

- Ranked top 10 in England for research impact by The Guardian

- Students' Union of the Year award 2005, short listed 2006 and 2007

Founded in 1921, the University of Leicester has 19,000 students from 136 countries. Teaching in 18 subject areas has been graded Excellent by the Quality Assurance Agency- including 14 successive scores - a consistent run of success matched by just one other UK University. Leicester is world renowned for the invention of DNA Fingerprinting by Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys and houses Europe's biggest academic Space Research Centre. 90% of staff are actively engaged in high quality research and 13 subject areas have been awarded the highest rating of 5* and 5 for research quality, demonstrating excellence at an international level. The University's research grant income places it among the top 20 UK research universities. The University employs over 3,000 people, has an annual turnover of £184m, covers an estate of 94 hectares and is engaged in a £300m investment programme- among the biggest of any UK university.

University Of Leicester