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Students ignoring healthy lifestyles
The Canada News-Wire (Thu 23 Nov 2006) writes that a George Brown College survey shows 40 per cent of middle-school students eat junk food every day while 53 per cent fail to exercise even four hours a week. Grade seven and eight students across the GTA know what it takes to be healthy, but are not following their own advice, according to a George Brown College survey released today at Health in the City. The annual event, sponsored by the College's Faculty of Community Services and Health Sciences, brings health educators and professionals together with students interested in health services careers.
Half of the students surveyed rated their own overall health as poor to average. Forty per cent admitted to eating chips and chocolate every day, and the majority did not meet Health Canada's guidelines for daily physical activity. Yet, when asked what it will take for society to become healthier, the vast majority answered "eat healthier foods and exercise more." The survey, which asked questions of nearly 300 middle-school students across the GTA, clearly shows behaviour is not following understanding when it comes to health:
- When asked to rate their health on a scale of one to five, 51 per cent rated themselves between one and three (1 being overweight and inactive; 5 being eat well and exercise regularly (3 or more hours a week)
- 40 per cent reported eating snack food (defined as chips and chocolate) once a day
- More than half (53 per cent) exercise less than four hours a week.
- One-third of respondents watch TV for eight or more hours each week
- 23 per cent spend eight or more hours each week at a computer or playing video games
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