Families must and tackle ‘BMI blindness’
● Parents fail to recognise that their children are overweight
UK parents are failing to recognise their children are overweight, as screen time, unhealthy snacks and dinner in front of the TV take precedence over outdoor activities and exercise. Aviva’s research shows 9 per cent of children aged two to 15 are considered overweight or obese by their parents, whereas NHS statistics indicate that nearly one third of children within this age range are. Meanwhile, more than half of parents use time in front of a TV, laptop or tablet as a way of motivating and rewarding their children.
Dr Doug Wright, medical director for Aviva UK Health, said: “No parent likes to think of their child as being unhealthy, but there is a clear mismatch between the number of children parents estimate are overweight, and how many actually are according to official figures. Delve into the nation’s diet and it’s no surprise the country has a weight issue, with many families regularly reaching for high calorie, sugary food and drinks, and too few meeting diet and exercise guidelines.
“With time and money the biggest barriers to keeping healthy, it’s all too easy to sideline family health, particularly when trying to juggle work or other commitments alongside raising a family. However, failing to recognise and tackle poor health habits can lead to illness or even serious health conditions in the long-term, putting more strain on already stretched healthcare services.”
The study found that just over a quarter of children exercise the recommended hour per day, while a quarter of families eat dinner on the sofa in front of the TV and a further 16 per cent eat around the dinner table but with the TV on or while checking phones.
A quarter of parents say their child is more likely to be looking at a screen than taking part in active games and sports, and an additional one in five say their child would rather be indoors than playing outside.
A total of 15 per cent of parents say their child shows little interest in exercise, while only two in five parents are exercising four times a week or more, and are therefore likely to be meeting the recommended target for adults.
Dr Wright added: “It’s time for families to remove the blinkers and tackle BMI blind-
0 A quarter of families eat dinner on the sofa in front of the television ness. Small lifestyle changes – like cutting down on sugary snacks, limiting screen time or walking/cycling to work and school – can add up to a big change and don’t have to be time intensive or expensive.”
The study found that more than a third of children and parents eat at least one portion of chocolate or crisps every day, while just 18 per cent of children and parents eat the recommended five portions of fruit or veg a day.