Research
Children's Diets (published in February 2011)
Children in the UK are risking serious illnesses later in life because of poor diet and nutrition while they are young, an important new study just published on behalf of the Health Supplements Information Service (HSIS) has found.
Health experts are warning that all too many British youngsters face a ticking health time bomb because of high intakes of saturated fat, salt and sugar and inadequate amounts of essential vitamins and minerals and essential fatty acids from oil rich fish. While the researchers found that on average diets have improved in recent years, they say that there are still major nutritional problems that were cause for concern and need addressing urgently.
Proper nutrition in childhood is essential for growth, development and long-term health into adulthood. There is mounting evidence that problems with child nutrition can significantly contribute to chronic and degenerative diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
In addition, poor diets and too little exercise have led to childhood obesity, with figures showing that one in 10 youngsters in school reception classes (aged 4 to 5) are obese, and this increases to 18% of those in year 6 (aged 10 to 11). Similarly, dental decay and even type 2 diabetes are becoming more of a problem in children.
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Nutrition and Lifestyle: A Study of Women in their 20s and 30s (published November 2007)
Young women in their 20s and 30s are putting their health at risk through poor diet and lack of exercise, according to a report published by the Health Supplements Information Service (HSIS). The study, ‘Nutrition and Lifestyle: A Study of Women in their 20s and 30s’, reveals that a significant number are tired and stressed, and feel too busy to look after themselves.
The HSIS report is based on a survey carried out across England, Scotland and Wales. Women aged from 20 to 39 years old were interviewed about their exercise habits, what they eat, dieting and their smoking and alcohol consumption. They were also asked questions about stress and tiredness. The responses illustrate the poor nutrition and lifestyle of young women, and highlight the need for them to consider making significant changes to their habits and to enhance their diets with an appropriate vitamin and mineral supplement.
Over half of women in their 20s and 30s (53.8%) feel tired for a quarter of the time, with a further quarter of them (26.3%) feeling tired at least half of the time. The results show links between tiredness and stress caused by work, concerns about health, being busy and sleep problems caused by worry.
The HSIS study also found that almost half (45.2%) of young women in their 20s and 30s exercise less than three times a week, despite governmental advice being to exercise for 30 minutes on five days a week or more, and only 15% manage to eat the recommended ‘five-a-day’ portions of fruit and vegetables. Just over a quarter smoke and over two-thirds drink alcohol, with more than two out of five of them admitting they could not give up drinking and become teetotal. Nevertheless, chocolate is actually the treat the greatest number of young women would find it most different to go without.
To download the report in full click here
To view the press release click here
For further information please contact Nicky Smith on 020 7052 8850 or Eva Levin on 020 7052 8853.
