Jun 25 2010
British children spend more on unhealthy snacks than US kids - MEND responds
Independent research company Datamonitor has found that average annual spending on sweets and chocolates for children in England is £372. That is more than double the £150 for American youngsters. The amount spent on savoury snacks such as crisps is put at £73.24 in the UK, compared with £39.51 in the U.S.
Paul Sacher, Research Director at MEND, an organisation that provides free after-school healthy lifestyle programmes for families with overweight and obese children, said:
“Childhood obesity is undoubtedly the most dangerous health epidemic facing the UK. Datamonitor’s research highlights a worrying trend of British children consuming excessive amounts of foods that are high in fat, sugar and salt.
“With children facing a constant stream of messages promoting unhealthy foods and drinks, and families struggling to decipher often complicated and inconsistent food labelling, it’s no wonder that UK families are making unhealthy food choices.
“It’s vital that families receive the information and practical support they need to make informed and healthy choices, through successful and effective national initiatives such as MEND’s after-school healthy lifestyle programmes."
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MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition...Do it!) is a social enterprise that runs free healthy lifestyle programmes for two – 13 year olds and their families
· The MEND Programme was devised by Great Ormond Street Hospital and the University College London’s Institute of Child Health
· The MEND Programme is run in over 350 sites across the UK per term and has helped over 17,000 families
· MEND’s healthy lifestyle programmes are developed and tested by obesity specialists for delivery by a range of public and private sector partners.
· MEND is a National Third Sector Partner of the Department of Health’s Change4Life campaign.
