How to change unhealthy habits

Schools alone cannot be responsible for ­ensuring that children eat well and exercise

Eating well in school is a good thing, but healthy habits must happen in the home, too. Satish Kumar / The National
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Most of our habits start early in life. They are learnt from our parents, members of our peer group and at school. Children either do as they are taught or mimic the behaviour of others. So, when we criticise the bad habits of young people, we should also take an honest look at the source of that behaviour.

As The National reported yesterday, a survey of 1,022 Dubai school pupils aged between 12 and 16 found some very unhealthy trends in terms of diet and physical activity. The survey showed that about one-third of respondents drank soft drinks on a daily basis and only 37 per cent exercise every day.

The UAE is not alone in this problem, but it takes on extra urgency because of the region’s existing high rates of childhood obesity and related diseases, including type 2 diabetes. The question is what can be done to reverse the trend.

One suggestion that has gained currency is to tackle it through the schools. British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has championed the cause through his Jamie's School Dinners television programme and his online Feed Me Better campaign. The UAE has done its part in this area by banning the sale of junk food and soft drinks at school cafeterias and introducing health education programmes.

The thinking behind this strategy is sound, but we cannot rely solely on schools to make sure our children eat well and take exercise. The good these programmes do can be easily undone in out-of-school hours and on holidays, such as the long summer break that begins today for many pupils.

The biggest changes can occur in the family home. It is a key duty of parents to provide positive role models for their children, by cooking and serving healthy meals and setting an example of a balanced lifestyle. If parents spend all their leisure time in front of the television, they can hardly be surprised if their children have their heads buried in their mobile devices. Shared activities, including eating and playing together, could make a huge difference to children and adults alike.