With lockdown still very much in place here in Wales, it comes as no surprise to me to hear that 1.9 million children are at risk of obesity due to lockdown eating habits.
I, like many other parents, are finding that I’m cooking so much more now than when my children were in school. With healthy packed lunches a requirement in school, that seems to have gone out the window at home.
Lunchtimes regularly mean bacon sandwiches followed by chocolate bars. I was staggered to learn that one third of UK children are overweight or obese. In addition 45% of parents are being pestered for sugary snacks by children.
Forget time outs, the naughty step or being sent to your room, Brits are saying yes to their children’s every whim during the lockdown, which could cause catastrophic consequences for their health.
Before the pandemic hit, one third of children in the UK, aged between two and fifteen were classed as overweight or obese, with the health crisis costing the NHS £6.1 billion per year.
Now a study has shown that 45 per cent of British parents are being bombarded with requests from their children demanding sugar filled snacks whilst they’re stuck at home during the lockdown.
There are 4.5 million children in the UK, with 97% of those cooped up at home during the lockdown. With nearly half of the nation’s children pestering parents for sugar laden snacks, the NHS could see a huge spike in obesity in over 1.9 million children in the years to come.
For millions of Brits at home with children, the lockdown is a pressure-cooker environment, juggling homeschooling, work, anxiety and no family support. Children of all ages can pick up on their parent’s stress and anxiety, taking on those feelings and choosing to snack or over eat to make themselves feel better. As parents give in to pester power, they are unaware of the dangers this could lead to in the future.
Wayne Starkey, CEO and Co-Founder of healthy food and drink brand, The Skinny Food Co, said: Sugar can have detrimental short and long term effects on our children, from mood swings and anxiety, to depression, tooth decay and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
“As a Dad myself, I understand how difficult it can be to change bad eating habits once they start, so opting for healthier alternatives is a much easier way to limit high calorie snacking for everyone in your household.”
The Skinny Food Co is a food and drink brand dedicated to Zero Calorie Sauces, Syrups and healthy snacking options.
