Our children in the spotlight

ADELA EARLINGTON:

Adela Earlington, aged 16, is studying for her GCSEs at Regent's Park School. She lives with her family in Maybush.

"I go to the gym three times a week for a couple of hours and I do a double lesson of PE each week at school. I've been doing this for about three months. I have back problems and my physio said it could be weight-related so I thought I'd drop some weight and tone up. It has helped and I've lost some weight and got more muscle tone in my legs. I feel fitter too.

I've dieted a few times in the past - I've tried different ones. I was about 13 the first time I dieted. I did it because I felt that I was overweight.

A typical evening meal for me is pasta or a shepherd's pie. I sometimes take lunch to school with me or have a jacket potato. I don't have a lot of fast food but I do eat a lot of chocolate - probably about a bar and a half a day.

I have been to the gym before but I haven't kept going with it. The incentive for me now it that I have my prom coming up and I want to look decent in a dress. Everyone is an individual and has their own body type. Not everyone's going to have an hourglass figure or an athlete's figure but you want to look good - you don't want to be seen as overly big.

I am glad that the prom's coming up but I wish that you could have access to a health expert of dietician in school. Back at my primary school there was someone you could talk to about your health. PE teachers tell you to eat healthily but it's too vague. I do like having curves but it's hard for me to find things to fit my legs because in my family, weight goes straight to our legs.

There is pressure on girls to be thin, especially with the way clothes are cut. It seems that men can put on weight and they can still get clothes and are seen as being sexy. It's like 'no!'.

Health and looking good are both important to me. What I want to do is lose some weight and tone up - I just wish I could get some more help."

DAVID COLLING:

David Colling, aged 17, is studying A-levels at Taunton's College and works part-time in a restaurant. He lives in Northam with his family.

"A typical meal for me is pasta with meatballs or bacon and beans - I always have a proper meal in the evening.

I don't eat much junk food. Usually during the day I'll have sandwiches or toast if I'm at home. I don't eat many sweets or chocolate. A bar of chocolate will fill me for ten minutes or so. If I get a roll it will keep me sustained for a few hours at least. I go for food that will keep me going - it's because of health and the cost.

I used to take bars of chocolate and fizzy drinks to college but that's changed. It's cheaper and healthier to have something else.

I'm aware of the risks of eating too much sugar too. I did have a problem with high blood pressure but I think that was more down to stress.

I do tend to be a bit lax on having enough fruit but I do eat it if it's available. Water is a bit tricky. I used to drink a lot but when I realised all the chemicals I was drinking I started drinking mineral water. But the trouble is the costs are rising on that too.

In terms of exercise, I do a lot of walking and have been known to go for a run. I often go out for a walk and sometimes I walk home from college, which is quite a long way. I would join a gym but it's too expensive. There are sport options at college like football and badminton but I'm not really a sporty person.

I have no issues with my fitness. I'm happy with my appearance - it's not an issue for me.

I'm happy with the way I look, which is fairly thin. I try to stay like I am, but if you get into a habit of eating properly and exercising it's easy."

AMY DIAPER:

Amy Diaper, aged 18, works in a health food shop. She lives with her boyfriend in Freemantle.

"I am a pretty healthy eater. I'm vegetarian which does make me think more about what I'm eating. I do eat junk food sometimes, but not on a day-to-day basis.

I don't always eat breakfast or lunch but I do always have an evening meal - something like pasta or falafel. I do try to eat enough fruit and vegetables and drink enough water - it's always in the back of my mind.

I don't really think of myself as doing much exercise but I do walk to and from work, which is half an hour each way, and I sometimes go out for walks at the weekends.

I have dieted when I was younger - I got a bit obsessed with it about three years ago and it became a problem but I'm over that now. I was quite a chubby child which was an issue because the rest of my family weren't. My mum's very healthy, she's vegan, and we didn't have sweets and chocolate at home so when I got to the age where I could start buying it myself I had too much.

I feel that I could be healthier. I see my health as a lot more important than I used to.

When I'm making an effort to be healthy I do feel better. I'll buy a two-litre bottle of water every day and make sure I drink it and I won't snack.

When I think about becoming healthier I think about what I eat rather than the amount of exercise I do."

TASHA GRANT:

Tasha Grant, aged 15, is studying for her GCSEs at Regent's Park School. She lives with her family in Redbridge.

"I know I could be fitter. I'm dieting now - I've been doing it for a month. I've lost quite a lot of weight.

At the moment I have a lot of salad in the daytime. There's a canteen at school but I don't really like the food there so I mostly take in my own food.

In the evening I have a normal dinner - chips and sausages or sausages and mash. At the moment I only have fast food every couple of weeks but I normally have it all the time. There's a fast food place on my way to school and it's difficult because I have to go past it all the time, but I don't go in there.

I don't diet very often but I've got my prom coming up next year and I want to be quite slim for that. I not on a particular diet - just healthy eating.

I don't do a lot of exercise. I do a double lesson of PE at school though which I didn't really do before. I get a lift to school and I don't go out for walks. I do play with my little brother and sister and run around with them but when I was younger I used to always be running round outside. Now I sit indoors a lot.

I'd like to look like my sister - she's so skinny. She is eight years old and she eats fast food all the time but she's as skinny as a rake.

It's not how fit I am, it's how I look that's important to me. I want to be able to go into a shop and buy a size eight. I want to be able to wear short skirts and short tops, not baggy clothes."

THE EXPERT'S VERDICT:

Glynis Wright, Healthy Schools co ordinator for Hampshire and south-east England gives her views on the young people's diet, exercise and attitudes.

ADELA:

"Adela enjoys her food and is able to eat chocolate but stay slim because she exercises such a lot. I think the important message here is that Adela says she wishes that in school students could have access to a health expert or dietician.

"Certainly, where schools have been involved with the national Healthy Schools programme they try to access informed support from dieticians and nutritionists.

This programme helps schools to develop a whole-school approach to promoting the health and wellbeing of the school community. By 2009 the government want to be supporting every school to be working towards being a Healthy School.

The new Food in Schools materials which will go to schools in the summer term support educating children and young people about all aspects of healthy eating. The Food in Schools programme is a joint venture between the Department of Health and the Department for education and Skills. A whole range of nutrition-related activities and projects are being developed as part of the programme, to complement and add value to existing healthier food initiatives in schools.

Adela also is concerned about image and this is reinforced by the media.

DAVID:

David seems to have a very healthy diet and also a good understanding about what different foods can do for you. He also appreciates the need for exercise, walking as much as he can. I think it is important that young people realise that exercise does not have to be going to the gym or playing sport. I am concerned that he is reluctant to drink water and suggest that a water filter jug would enable him to filter chemicals and be able to use tap water. The main thing is that he is happy with his appearance. The emotional health of our young people is as important as anything else.

My real concern with Tasha's situation is that she doesn't like the food at her school. I would advise her to see if she can influence what the school provides.

TASHA:

Tasha understands that fast food and chips are not helping her lose weight. This is affecting her emotional health because she is keen to wear clothes that she perceives as more fashionable. The media does put pressure on young people, especially girls, to be very slim.

AMY:

Amy understands about the importance of healthy eating and exercise but does not always do it. She should realise the importance of a good breakfast. She is right to think that drinking water is important and that walking can be as good for you as going to the gym."

As from April 1 this year schools will have to tackle healthy eating, physical activity, emotional health and wellbeing and personal, social and health education if they want to be validated as a Healthy School.

Schools which are validated as Healthy Schools will have achieved national standards which demonstrate key contributions to education and health priorities.

The consultation document can be found on www.wiredforhealth.gov.uk