What are the issues?

Photo of boy at school picking grapes from a container

We are all aware of the major publicity regarding the importance of maintaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle in terms of reducing the chances of ill health now and in later life. There is increasing emphasis on the role schools have in improving the physical, social and mental health of children and young people and their families.

The particular focus of these materials is to encourage schools to work closely with parents to identify and respond to any health-related issue their child may have and support children to make positive life choices regarding diet, physical activity, and social and emotional health and well-being.

Facts and information

Diet and nutrition

There is increasing evidence that what we eat affects not only our bodies but the functioning of the brain which affects both learning and behaviour. Recent surveys of children and young people in Scotland show that many children do not eat in a healthy way:

53 per cent drink fizzy or sugary drinks at least once a day
40 per cent eat chocolate, crisps or biscuits more than once a day
40 per cent eat vegetables only once a week or less often, going down to 25 per cent for 13-15-year-olds
16 per cent of children and young people eat fresh fruit only once a week or less often
24 per cent hardly ever eat breakfast.

Sources: Scottish Health Survey (1998) and SALSUS (2002)

Physical activity

There is evidence that being active stimulates feelings of well-being and that exercise can help overcome depression. It is recommended that everyone should be physically active most days of the week and that children should take part in moderate physical activity for at least 60 minutes five times a week.

Many children do not do this and fewer young people exercise as they get older. The recommended level of activity is only achieved by:

55 per cent of boys and 41 per cent of girls at 11 years
47 per cent of boys and 29 per cent of girls at 13 years
39 per cent of boys and 24 per cent of girls at 15 years.

Source: Health Scotland - Active Living

Social and emotional health and well-being

It is recognised that good mental, social and emotional health among children and young people is essential to their doing well in their lives and at school. This includes, for example, how they feel, how they cope, having friendships and positive relationships, and having the support they need when they have problems. Data for 13-15-year-olds suggest that:

50 per cent feel low at some point
42 per cent sometimes have difficulty sleeping
38 per cent feel some or a lot of pressure from school work.

Sources SALSUS (2002)

There is evidence that:

attention to emotional and social needs is a prerequisite to learning and academic attainment
promoting emotional wellbeing at home and at school will support children and young people to do well at school
pupils learn more effectively if they are happy in their work, believe in themselves, like their teachers and feel that their school supports them.

Zins et al (2004)