A fifth of 11-14 year olds turn to social media, YouTube stars and bloggers to find information on healthy eating, according to a new survey.
Those who rely on social channels for healthy inspiration can be given wrong or misleading advice, the study found, as vloggers, Instagrammers or other social media stars are often unqualified and unmonitored.
The poll of 2,000 youngsters, conducted by Sainsbury’s to launch its Active Kids programmes and voucher scheme, also found that while 69 per cent believe their lifestyle is healthy, most young people are not doing enough.
A fifth (19 per cent) said skipping meals would lead to a healthier lifestyle, while 43 per cent cited cutting out one food group, which rose to 50 per cent among heavy social media users.
Over half do not consider limit the amount of fried food they eat, while a quarter do not reduce their intake of sweets and chocolate.
Althugh young people seem to be aware of what is necessary to become healthier, most were not putting this into practice. Almost half (41 per cent) of kids said they should ‘probably do more’ when it comes to exercise, and most said they knew it was important to get a balanced diet, eat their 5 A DAY, exercise every day and drink enough water.
Sainsbury’s Active Kids manager Rachel Carrington said: “The 11-14 year old period is the time when children make the transition from primary to secondary school and have more freedom to make their own decisions about what they eat and the exercise they do.
“We commissioned this report to delve into the current issues surrounding young people’s health and fitness so we can continue to evolve our Active Kids programme to address the pressure points facing children and young teens today. It’s clear from the findings that we must find solutions to ensure these trends do not become the new normal in society.”
Active Kids ambassador and England striker Daniel Sturridge said: “Encouraging children to participate in sport and to educate them about eating well is a real passion of mine. I helped in the kitchen from a young age and my dad and uncles were professional footballers so they taught me about the nutrition required for a professional athlete to perform at their best.”
