Teens turn their back on TV and takeaways

Citation

(2008), "Teens turn their back on TV and takeaways", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 38 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/nfs.2008.01738eab.004

Teens turn their back on TV and takeaways

Article Type: Food facts From: Nutrition & Food Science, Volume 38, Issue 5.

Survey results released from the UK's leading slimming organisation reveal that TV, computer games and fast food are the biggest factors affecting teenage obesity, but the 100 adolescents who took part are now eating 30 per cent fewer takeaways and watching a third less TV as a result of following Slimming World's innovative Free2Go eating plan.

This unique healthy lifestyle programme is helping thousands of teenagers to turn their backs on fast food and computer games, to eat more healthily and to enjoy more active and confident lives.

The unique Free2Go eating programme is available to adolescents who attend Slimming World as part of the family affair scheme, which allows 11-15-year-old adolescents to attend groups free of charge with a parent of guardian and with the approval of their GP or health carer.

Teenagers who took part in the new survey reported that since joining Slimming World's programme, they on average now:

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  eat 30 per cent fewer takeaways and fast food;

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  play computer games 17 per cent less often;

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  watch 28 per cent less TV;

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  spend 21 per cent more time playing sport;

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  eat 45 per cent less unhealthy snack food;

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  are 33 per cent more likely to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day and

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  spend 10 per cent more time out with their friends.

Friendly group support and practical advice on food and activity are the keys to helping Britain's teenagers say “no” to unhealthy habits, reveals the detailed new study.

Before joining Slimming World's family affair scheme, both girls and boys surveyed reported that their biggest worry was that their weight would go up and up unless they changed their lifestyle. Boys were slightly more concerned about being teased over their weight and being unable to do sports, while girls were more likely to be concerned about not being able to wear nice clothes.

They now report that they are much less worried about their health or about trying to manage their weight, and are much more confident that they can eat healthily for life.

The in-depth survey interviewed 96 boys and girls with an average age of 13, who had been members at Slimming World. Since joining the programme they had each lost an average of 4.38kg (9.7l bs) had reduced their body mass index by 2.25 points, and had grown by 2cm (just under 1 in.) in height, during the 19 weeks of the study.

The teenagers reported that they felt the help and advice they received at Slimming World were more than twice as useful as anything they had received from their school or their GP. Far from feeling pressured or humiliated by joining a slimming group, they overwhelmingly said that they enjoy the support and encouragement they find and that joining has given them more confidence in their social life.

“Our study shows that the Free2Go lifestyle plan helps teenagers maintain the energy gap that will keep them on a path towards a healthy weight and away from adult obesity, by growing into their weight rather than crash dieting”, says Slimming World's research officer Dr James Stubbs, PhD. “It's particularly pleasing that in managing their weight, our young members view changing their diet and lifestyle as far more important factors than simple calorie-counting or specialised weight-loss diets”.

“The survey also found that the community-based group structure provided by Slimming World left the participants feeling more supported, pleased with the help and advice they received and more confident that they could eat healthily, adopt healthier lifestyles and so be less worried about their weight and health for the future”, adds Dr Stubbs.

For further information about Slimming World visit www.slimming-world.com