Have you ever asked youngsters whether they like to take fast food? 'Yes!’ I bet this was the answer you got from them most of the time. This is not surprising because in Singapore, a latest survey has revealed that 9 out of 10 Singaporean adolescents eat at Western fast-food restaurants and among them, more than three-quarters do so once a week.
During October 2007, a group of master's students at the National Institute of Education (NIE) conducted a survey of 265 students aged between 12 and 19, and reported that the youngsters actually base their food choices on 3 main factors: taste, appeal and convenience.
Taking too much fast food will not only put extra weight on the body but also raise the risk of heart disease and many medical conditions. These young people are just not getting enough information on how unhealthy and unbalanced these trans fat-laden fast foods were. They missed out on important information regarding what they are actually eating and whether it is good for them. Once the youngsters have developed unhealthy lifestyles, they will actually suffer when they grow older because they will get sick too young and they will spend more on the medical expenses.
This is, indeed, a serious problem. Data shows that 9 percent of children in Singapore are overweight, and 3 to 5 percent are obese. People with BMI between 25 and 30 are classified as overweight and above 30 as obese. BMI (Body Mass Index) is a measure of body fat based on one's height and weight. Nevertheless, Singapore is not alone as the fast-food phenomenon has already swept across Asia.
Schools have already taken steps to encourage school children to take up more physical activities during school hours. Therefore, the biggest problem in schools lies not in lack of exercise during school hours, but what children do after school. As such, schools will have to work with the community and parents to address the issue.
During October 2007, a group of master's students at the National Institute of Education (NIE) conducted a survey of 265 students aged between 12 and 19, and reported that the youngsters actually base their food choices on 3 main factors: taste, appeal and convenience.
Taking too much fast food will not only put extra weight on the body but also raise the risk of heart disease and many medical conditions. These young people are just not getting enough information on how unhealthy and unbalanced these trans fat-laden fast foods were. They missed out on important information regarding what they are actually eating and whether it is good for them. Once the youngsters have developed unhealthy lifestyles, they will actually suffer when they grow older because they will get sick too young and they will spend more on the medical expenses.
This is, indeed, a serious problem. Data shows that 9 percent of children in Singapore are overweight, and 3 to 5 percent are obese. People with BMI between 25 and 30 are classified as overweight and above 30 as obese. BMI (Body Mass Index) is a measure of body fat based on one's height and weight. Nevertheless, Singapore is not alone as the fast-food phenomenon has already swept across Asia.
Schools have already taken steps to encourage school children to take up more physical activities during school hours. Therefore, the biggest problem in schools lies not in lack of exercise during school hours, but what children do after school. As such, schools will have to work with the community and parents to address the issue.
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