A new study shows that:
- 30% girls (compared with 19% boys) weigh
themselves at least weekly, and 7% girls weigh
themselves daily
- 38% worry about their health at least once a
week, and 16% every day
- 3 in 10 (31%) has visited a doctor inside
the past month
The worriers are noticeably more likely to be
girls, and more likely to be under 16.
The ‘worried-teens’ are identified in a new study
called ’My Body, My Self’, published by the Nestlé
Social Research Programme, which looks at young
people’s values and motives about healthy living.
Fieldwork was carried out by MORI in April and May
2004 amongst a representative sample of 11 to 21
year olds in Britain.
Both sexes want to be fitter – more than 7 out of
10 - but girls in particular are concerned about
their appearance. Nearly 6 in 10 girls want to weigh
less. But exercise and eating habits don’t match
this. Only around a half (53% girls, 55% boys)
exercise once a week (with the exception of
walking). Less than half (45%) eat fresh fruit daily
and only just over half (56%) check out sugar and
fat in the food they eat.
The younger worriers
Age appears to make a difference to the concerns
of young people, with younger teens appearing to
worry more frequently about their health than those
over the age of sixteen.
Under 16’s are more likely to exercise to
maintain or lose weight, to avoid fat and sugar, red
meat and food that will give them spots. The
findings suggest that teens in this group are the
most concerned about their appearance and the most
sensitive to health messages.
Londoners worry most, yet are fittest
Striking regional differences emerge in attitudes
to fitness and health, particularly when comparing
the South with London. Surprisingly, young people
living in the South, one of the six regions studied,
appear to be the least fit and healthy and those in
Greater London the most. Londoners are likely to
worry about their health most often, compared with
young people in five other regions (North, Midlands,
South, Scotland and Wales).
“No condoms, no worry” - but drugs are
dangerous
The study also shows that messages of the health
risks of drugs have got through, but less so for
alcohol and sex.
- Only just over half (55%) believe binge
drinking is ‘very risky’
- Only two thirds – and just 56% of boys -
believe that sex without condoms is ‘very risky’
Young people see drugs as risky:
- 90% see heroin, and 86% see cocaine, as very
risky
- About 7 in 10 see smoking cigarettes and a
similar number cannabis as very risky
Taking risks is attractive to some young people.
Around a half agree that “I like taking risks and
sometimes do things that might be dangerous to my
health’.
Boys (53%) are more risk-taking than girls (39%),
while 25% of boys are risk-averse compared with 39%
of girls. Risk-takers are more likely to exercise to
look good and because they like the sensation, but
they are less keen on ‘healthy’ food. The
risk-averse are more concerned about their health
and their weight.
Health Information
Parents are the most important source of health
information (67%), with doctors second overall. But
for girls, magazines are almost as vital a source as
parents – but less than 3 in 10 boys find health
information in magazines. More girls use the
Internet for health information than boys – 48%
compared to 36%.
Professor Helen Haste, Director of Research for
the Nestlé Social Research Programme, says:
“Young people are getting a message about health
but it is very tied to appearance. This could be a
motivating factor in improving eating and exercise
habits, but it can also just lead to anxiety. Young
people are still not exercising enough and have very
patchy understanding about how to monitor their
eating.”
“Boys are keen on being fit, but in general they
are less tuned into their health, less interested in
getting information, and more sceptical about
checking out what they eat. Girls are more
health-aware and more likely to monitor their
health. Boys’ and men’s magazines could be a major
source in the future for targeting health messages
to young people – as women’s magazines already do
for girls.”
Ends For further information and photos
please contact:
Penny Clifton/Gemma Merton
Nestlé Social Research Programme Secretariat
Tel: 020 7388 9988
Email:
nsrp@spreckley.co.uk
Web: www.spreckley.co.uk/nestle
October 2004
Notes to editor:
- ’My Body, My Self’ looks at young people’s
values and motives about healthy living and
considers how young people make health
decisions.
- The research was carried out by MORI using a
representative national sample of 1,058 girls
and boys aged 11 – 21 years, during April and
May 2004. The questionnaire was versioned and
687 young people answered questions relating to
health and wellbeing. Interviews among school
and college pupils were conducted in 25
establishments, on paper during self-completion
sessions. Interviews with university students
and others not studying were conducted via an
on-line self-completion questionnaire.
- Copies of the report are available from the
Nestlé Social Research Programme secretariat,
tel: 020 7388 9988.
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