Poste Sept 1, 2011
CHILDREN use the same ploys as adults to justify eating junk food, research has shown.
The use of Compensatory Health Beliefs (CHBs) – justifying doing something unhealthy by saying you plan to make up for it later – by primary school children could be contributing to rising obesity levels, according to a study.
Derby University student Atiya Kamal said: “It is accepted many adults hold these beliefs, and I wanted to find out if children also have them, and if they might contribute to childhood obesity levels. My research suggests this is the case, and work must be done to address the issue and combat these beliefs among children.”
Miss Kamal said CHBs could be contributing to a rise in UK obesity levels despite initiatives to promote healthy eating and exercise. It also comes amid claims that soft drinks companies are using misleading advertising to target children.
For her doctorate study Miss Kamal interviewed around 100 five to 10-year-olds in primary school education about their diet and activities, and how they linked to CHBs.
Findings suggest children do hold CHBs in areas including physical activity, media-related activities, a high-fat and high- sugar diet, oral health and sleep.
One six-year-old girl told her it was acceptable to watch television for a long time because: “I go out, run around, go back in and watch TV again.”
The number of obese Britons is predicted to rise to 26 million by 2030 and Miss Kamal said CHBs could be a factor in the growing problem.
One girl told her: “Sometimes I have bacon and eggs on a Friday and on Mondays we have a big salad.”
“So in her mind, they are compensating on a large scale,” Miss Kamal added.