Keep pupils in school at lunchtime to tackle obesity
‘High in fat and salt’
PUPILS should be kept in schools over lunch breaks to make sure they eat a nutritious meal, health experts say.
Councils have been urged to consider ‘onsite lunchtime policies’ to stop youngsters eating takeaways or buying junk food.
The Glasgow Centre for Population Health (GCPH) made the call in response to Scottish Government plans to tackle obesity.
Onsite lunchtime policies mean pupils cannot leave schools unless they have express permission.
figures show that 29 per cent of Scottish children and two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese.
The Scottish Government is preparing a healthy weight strategy which is expected to mean a crackdown on junk food promotions.
responding to the consultation on the proposals, health experts back the move but say more could be done.
The GCPH says Scottish schools could follow the example of those in Sweden, where lunch is considered ‘part of the school day’ and children stay on the premises and get involved with food preparation.
A pilot scheme aimed at getting Glasgow secondary pupils to stay in over lunch led to an increase in children eating school meals.
A GCPH survey of pupils who leave school at lunch found some of the most popular items bought are chips, often with curry sauce, gravy or cheese.
Kebabs, burgers, pizza and sausage rolls are also lunchtime favourites, usually washed down with sugary drinks.
The Scottish Government is examining ways to tackle the country’s obesity crisis.
The GCPH said: ‘In our research exploring the nutri- tional quality of food sold from outlets around selected schools, we found that fast food bought outside school is of very poor nutritional value and high in fat salt. Encouraging pupils to stay onsite is therefore likely to result in an improvement in the nutritional quality of lunch.
‘In addition, pupils eligible for free school meals are disadvantaged where there is a culture of leaving school to buy lunch.
‘Onsite lunchtime policies have the dual benefits of providing healthier, affordable food options without stigmatising those not financially able to purchase off-site lunches.
‘We would like a review of the approach to food in schools.’
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde also responded to the consultation and called for limits on the junk food that can be bought on a shopping trip.
It said: ‘More needs to be done by retailers to promote less calorie-dense foods. Consideration should include limiting the number of high fat, high salt or high sugar items which can be purchased on one occasion.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Our obesity strategy includes measures designed to help people make healthier choices, along with world-leading proposals to restrict the marketing of foods high in fat, salt and sugar.’