Comenius Projekt THE IMPACT OF PERSONAL FOOD DRINK

Comenius Projekt THE IMPACT OF PERSONAL FOOD, DRINK AND LIFESTYLE CHOISES ON PERSONAL HEALTH

Problem formulation: Why do many young people aged 15 -18 live unhealthily, when they know that it can have consequences for their health? The areas included in the study are: Physical activity, smoking, alcohol habits, dietary intake and diets.

Definition of what it means to live healthy in relation to physical activity, drinking habits, smoking habits eating consumption and eating habits in the ages 15 -18:

Alcohol consumption: Drinking habits Definition of healthy drinking habits: n n The recommended maximum intake of alcohol for women is max of 14 units a week. The recommended maximum intake of alcohol for men is max of 21 units a week. The recommended maximum intake of alcohol in one sitting is 5 units Children/teens under 16 years of age are not recommended to drink. What impact does abuse of alcohol have your personal health? n n n Physical as well as mental consequences. Reduced concentration: Reduced ability to evaluate different risks, fatigue, unwanted sex and verbal and physical fights, but also the more frequent consequence such as a hangover. A bad image and it may also lead to drunk driving, reduced performance at work or in school. On top of that other consequences can be serious diseases. Alcohol can induce cancer and it results in a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Physical activity: Exercise Definitions of healthy exercise habits: n n When you are under 18 years old, it is recommended that you do – exercises 60 minuts a day. Any kind of physically activity count. What impact does lack of regular exercise have on personal health? n n n Overweight. Low self esteem Cardiovascular disease Diabetes 2 Arteriosclerosis

Smoking habits Definition of how to live healthy in terms of smoking: n To be healthy, don’t smoke. What impact does smoking have your personal health? n n Cardiovascular disease (diseases of the heart and blood vessels) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (narrowing airways resulting in almost irreversible shortness of breath) Lung cancer Generally a reduced quality of life

Food consumption: Eating habits Definition of healthy eating habits: n n n 600 g. of fruits and vegetables a day At least 75 g. of whole wheat bread a day, especially from varied products (pasta, potatoes, rice and grain) A maximum of 10 % of consumed carbohydrates can be sugar 200 -300 g. of fish a week, varying between lean and fat fish. Fast food has to be eaten in limited amounts and not too often. What impact does unhealthy eating habits have on your personal health? n n The ability to learn deteriorates and you become fatigued and lethargic Increased risk of cancer, arteriolosclerosis and blood clots in the heart Overweight and lifestyle diseases (Diabetes 2 and cardiovascular disease) Holes Cavities in the teeth (bad teeth)

Healthy eating habits Definition of healthy eating habits for Young people n There has to be 3 big meals i. e. breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In addition there has to be 2 -3 small meals consisting of fruits and snacks. Regular small meals are recommended to avoid unhealthy snacks. What impact do bad eating habits have on your personal health? n You lose the ability to concentrate and reduce your learning ability n Your risk of getting and developing obesity increases n Your risk of getting cardiovascular diseases increases n You feel unwell and might feel depressed.

Do the young people in the Comenius study live unhealthy according to the definitions?

Alcohol n n According to the definition of healthy drinking habits we are able to see that only England Denmark are the ones that have an intake above the women’s maximum alcohol limit which is 14 units a week. Denmark is the leading country in alcohol drinking between 8 and 14 units followed by England on a second place. Spain and the Czech Republic are the healthiest according to alcohol. England Czech Republic Spain Denmark 4 14+ 0 0 8 15 8 -> 14 6 2 20

Smoking n Regarding smoking, the English smoke the least, followed by the Czechs and the Danes. The Spaniards smoke the most. The English are therefore the healthiest and the Spaniards the unhealthiest. 80 70 60 50 Denmark 40 England 30 Spain The Czech Republic 20 10 0 I do not smoke Sometimes Everyday

Excercise n n n According to the definition, no one is healthy, and all of them are unhealthy. Czech Republic is the healthiest of the unhealthiest countries. And the Spanish students are the unhealthiest of the unhealthiest countries. 80 70 60 50 40 Several times a week of physical activities 30 Non-effective times of physical activities 20 10 0 Denmark England Spain Czech Republic

Food consumption n n According to the definition about food intake no one from Spain, Czech, England Denmark lives up to our definition about healthy food in-take. When it comes to food intake most Danes eat fruit and vegetables daily, whereas they seldom eat fastfood (compared to the other countries). After Danes, Czechs eat most fruit and then the English, who also eat only a little fast food. The Spanish eat the less fruit and vegetables, while the Czechs most often eat fastfood, but at the same time it the Spanish, who eat chips and crisp the most. The Spanish most often eat fish, and number 2 and 3 are the Danes and the English, and at last the Czechs. So as far as food intake is concerned it seems that the Danes are the healthiest. 70 90 60 80 50 70 60 50 Fast food eaten seldom or never 40 40 Fruit eaten seldom or never 30 Furit eaten every day Fast food eaten often 30 20 20 10 10 0 0 Denmark England Spain Czech Republic Denmark England Spain Czech Republic

Eating Habits n n n Denmark and Czech Republic are the countries who eat the most breakfast. Surprising is that only approx. half of the English and Spanish students eat breakfast everyday. Only very few rarely eat breakfast. Denmark and Czech Republic eat hot food every day. Striking is that in England Spain less than half eats hot food everyday. Denmark is the only country that eats a proper meal every day. Prominent is that less than half of the Czech Republic does not eat a decent meal every day. In England Spain is it approx. half that eats a proper meal every day.

Why is the physical activity, alcohol consumption, food habits and smoking habits as it is in the countries concerned?

Why is food consumption as it is in the concerned countries? n n n n We have had correspondence with 6 young people from the Comenius group All six know about healthy eating. Eating is often bound by traditions. in general they eat healthy food, but not always because Fast food is easier to get hold of than to cook a proper meal, in towns or cities there is easy access to fast food as opposed to the countryside. young people prefer to eat whatever they like or believe to be right - not what they are told to eat.

Why is the level of physical activity as it is in the countries in question? n In all the countries people don’t feel they have the time to do a lot of physical activities. n Because many take the bus to school n Not everyone knows how important it is to do physical activities

Why is smoking as it is in the concerned countries? n n n n n Most of the Spaniards smoke daily – this can be attributed to: Popular to smoke at parties It isn't forbidden to smoke in as many places as it is in Denmark or England. The cost is between 2, 5 € and 3, 5 € Many buy cigarettes even though they aren’t 18 The Danes are second in terms of smoking There is not enough supervision when it comes to how old buyers of cigarettes are The Czechs smoke a lot less than the Danes. It is illegal to smoke at bus stops The English smoke the least. Smoking is very expensive (£ 5) a lot of supervision in England fake ID

The Danish Youngster’s food habits. n n n n n The Danish youngsters have bad food habits. They often skip a meal or two. Among other things, that is because: Fast food is very easy, quick and informal Career parents’ lifestyle makes young people lose their incentive to eat properly. Young people don’t care for lunchboxes or packed lunches. Cooking and eating easily gets uninteresting when you are single and live alone. A lot of young people lack the social intercourse with eating, since they don’t eat together with their family. A lot of young people never really learnt to cook themselves, and as a result never try to learn either.

Alcohol habits The reason for alcohol habits in Denmark The reason can be: n n n The parents’ alcohol habits The relationship between children and parents Low self-worth The school (peer pressure) Conclusion of mails: age limit – 18 years

Is there something to be done to get all young people to live healthy in terms of physical activity, alcohol habits, Smoking habits, eating consumption and eating habits? In that case who must do what?

Possible solutions of food consumption problems? The Danish parliament: n n n Reduce prices on the healthy foods and increase prices on unhealthy food. Abolish the VAT on healthy food and instead raise the VAT on unhealthy food. introduce a new Education Act in which no junk food at schools is allowed. More money should be spent on free healthy food in schools. substitute the vending machines with healthy snacks from the school canteen. Make a law in which the grocers are not allowed to advertise unhealthy food, especially sweets, crisps, chocolate and cake next to the check-out desk. The public institutions (High schools and education centres): n n More sports activities after school (dance, basket ball, cheerleading, soccer and gymnastic). Compulsory sports or PE for all pupils in school every day as extra modules (lessons) in the timetable. What can you do? n n n Replace candy with fruit and healthy snack(nuts and healthy biscuits) You do some more exercise; it will keep the motivation to eat healthier. Get more involved in your health e. g. read food guidance.

Possible solutions of alcohol problems n n n Alcohol buying limit at the age of 18 Current rules on tax free shopping inside the EU Current control rules outside the EU More scare campaigns like the ones we already have about smoking. More information to parents to make them better role models.

Possible solutions of physical activity problems n n n The media have to make campaigns on TV about what too little physical activity can result in. The government has to introduce compulsorily physical education to all students at all educational levels Motivation means everything; parents have to be good role models.

What can be done to solve smoking problems n n n Encourage each other not to smoke Make smoking unpopular Search through pockets looking for cigarettes Show interest in the health of their children Explain about smoking (consequences, reduced lifespan) Inform the young people about the consequences of smoking Make presentations about smoking Tighten the laws regarding smoking Raise the price of cigarettes Raise the minimum age needed to buy cigarettes, e. g. 21 years Additional scaremongering Courses that encourage smoke-stop.

Possible solutions of eating habit problems n n n Friends and family have to be supportive Healthy, Cooking instead of grabbing and eating fast-food Making the lunch look more appealing, and having fun by doing it Eating more small healthy meals or snacks during the day. Free water and fruits ought to be available at schools The government could provide more information

Conclusion

Why do many young people aged 15 -18 live unhealthily, when they know that it can have consequences for their health? Physical: n About half of the students don’t have a healthy lifestyle according to the definition mostly because they don’t have the time. n They don’t know how important it is to do physical activities. Smoking: n About 30% of the students smoke- For example because it’s popular to smoke at parties Alcohol habits: n In England Denmark there are students who drink too much alcohol according to the definition. n In Denmark students drink because of their parents’ drinking habits. Food consumption: n Between 17 -34% of the students eat fast food once or a twice a week and some every day. The reasons are: n Fast food is easy to get hold of. n Young people eat what ever they like the most. Eating habits: n Between 24 -51% don’t eat breakfast every day. n Between 20 -53% eat a hot meal every day. n The easy accessible fast food makes people skip their regular meals.