What eats the youth? Answers are provided by a large study by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) to the diet of children and adolescents in Germany. Striking is the high proportion of vegetarians are, an obvious aversion to the food in the school canteen and the slimming pressure among the adolescents.
For the studies EsKiMo I and II investigated researchers 2006 the dietary habits of Six – to 17-Year-olds. 2015 to 2017, interviews were held again. Were involved 2644 children and young people in a total of 167 places in Germany. The five most important results at a Glance:
1. Young people are slimming pressure
On the subject of diets, the researchers analyzed only the data of the Twelve – to 17-Year-olds. More than a third of young people with normal weight is estimated, therefore, as to thick. And more than 40 percent of under-weight feel just right. This indicates a high slimming pressure among the young, writes the RKI.
This also speaks, that almost every fifth young person has made in the three years prior to the interview, a diet, in obese adolescents, the percentage is 40 percent. Based on the gender, there are large differences – girls have significantly more diet experiences as a boy.
In the average diet lasted 30 days. 4.3 per cent of the young people, almost one in Twenty, stated, however, constantly in your diet to restrict.
2. Meatless is a growing Trend – Older
Among the respondents children up to eleven years, were vegetarians, only 1.4 per cent eat no meat. Otherwise it looks at the earlier of: Five-percent of Twelve – to 17-Year-old declared to a vegetarian. Particularly striking is the large proportion of women – 8.1 percent of girls in this age group is waived meat. These Figures are significantly above the national average.
A total of around 4.3 per cent of the German feed, according to a study from the year 2011, the vegetarian, among the 18 – to 29-Year-olds, the proportion is greatest. In this age group, every tenth woman dispenses almost meat-free. A well-balanced vegetarian diet is suitable according to the German society for nutrition for children.
3. School lunch doesn’t taste
Today, twice as many children and youth have according to the study, access to a warm lunch in school like 15 years ago. Almost all (87 percent) could eat at school – in reality, only 37.4 percent of the students do but.
Younger children between six and eleven use the services more frequently, and more than half of them eat lunch in the school, if there is the possibility. Of the older students do, only a third.
As the reasons students mentioned, among other things, that you can get to home cooked food, or that the teaching takes place only in the morning. More than 30 percent of Twelve – to 17-Year-old is not stated, however, to eat in school, because it taste you there.
In the new länder, the supply of hot lunch is widely used in schools, significantly more than in the old, about 96 percent of the schools offer food. In the West of Germany have been created since the last survey in 2006, many of the new offerings.
4. Dietary supplements are often taken without any defect
Every sixth of the between 2015 and 2017, surveyed Adolescents had swallowed in the last four weeks of a dietary Supplement.
Young people who make a lot of Sport and a normal weight, engage, therefore, more often nutritional supplements than others. Even among vegetarians, the proportion was remarkably high in this group, almost 30 percent took a powder and capsules. The majority claimed to want with the minerals or vitamins its health improving substances. A fifth said they would take the funds on the advice of your doctor.
In fact, most Germans can take care of your body by eating a balanced diet with sufficient vitamins and minerals. However, some young people have the study results suggest that a lack of Iodine and Vitamin D, many girls suffer from iron deficiency. Especially in the case of a vegan diet, children need to bring in addition, Vitamin B-12.
45 percent of those who take supplements to swallow, however, is Magnesium. Some hope to gain, muscle cramp. This effect, however, is not evidenced until today valid. Overdose can lead to diarrhea and vomiting. Also, Vitamin C supplements, apply with a balanced diet as superfluous, but were swallowed also extremely common.
5. Shared meals help the health
Eat families together at home, feed the kids healthier. It is more fruit and vegetables on the plate, most of the children have a lower BMI and are developing a rare eating disorders.
In Germany almost all families eat the study results showed that 99.3 percent – at least once a day together at home. Usually all members of the household come together at dinner. Overweight children eat less often with their parents than normal weight children or adolescents.
Summary: In Germany, many young people try to optimize their diet. Almost one in Twenty to be permanently on a diet. Many children and young people also take dietary supplements, though these are unnecessary in most cases. In addition, many young people refrain from eating meat – especially girls. The results are to be used according to the RKI, to the influence of diet on the health of children and young people better estimate.