Survey: Today’s British teens run on empty
New findings show 24 percent of teenagers in the UK feel they lack the energy needed to take part in after-school activities, according to Sun-Pat.
• 30 percent of 16 year olds go more than six hours without food
• 24 percent of teens don’t have energy for after-school clubs
• 40 percent feel under pressure to perform in and out of school
As part of its Spread the Energy campaign, Sun-Pat uncovers the mounting expectations on today’s teenagers to perform. 40 percent of 16 year olds feel the pressure to do well at school and in after-school activities, while 26 percent of parents would like their children to be more active.
Despite long days and added stress, teens’ tanks are running on empty. 30 percent of 16 year olds claim to go more than six hours without food between lunch and dinner, leaving them with low energy and enthusiasm to take part in after-school sports activities.
Sun-Pat is highlighting the importance of maintaining teenagers’ energy levels by launching a fun and sporty competition. 10 winning sports teams will receive GBP 1,000 vouchers towards new sports kit or equipment, with one lucky team getting to meet Olympian long jumper Greg Rutherford. Each winner will also receive a year’s supply of delicious Sun-Pat peanut butter to keep the good energy flowing.
Nutritional snacking is high on any parent’s agenda, though they don’t always have involvement in their children’s choice of snacks. 47 percent give their teens the freedom to choose their own snacks, yet 60 percent don’t agree with their food choices.
The survey reveals that 24 percent of hungry teens would reach for pre-packaged snacks if they needed extra energy. Surprisingly 14 percent admit they don’t know the best foods to keep energy levels sustained.
Nutritionist Dr. Sarah Schenker comments: “In real terms, it’s not so much that teenagers lack the energy but that they misread the signs telling them they are hungry. For teenagers with an active lifestyle and restricted traditional mealtimes, embracing the after-school snacking occasion could be the perfect solution to keep energy levels maintained. Interestingly, the survey found that almost a quarter of parents (23 percent) believe snacking still has negative connotations that need to be overcome – which I fully support. Introducing convenient and nutritious foods can overcome the stigma of snacking and help us all to become more active and healthier.”
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