More girls are skipping meals to lose weight

The number of schoolgirls skipping meals to lose weight has soared in recent years, according to research published yesterday. More than 40 per cent of girls aged 14 or 15 now admit not eating before arriving for classes.

The number of schoolgirls skipping meals to lose weight has soared in recent years, according to research published yesterday. More than 40 per cent of girls aged 14 or 15 now admit not eating before arriving for classes.

Meanwhile, the number of girls of the same age missing lunch during a school day has increased nine-fold since 1984, the study funded by local education and health authorities found. The Schools Health Education Unit has interviewed almost 300,000 schoolchildren since 1983 across the UK.

The latest study found that the number of girls aged 12 or 13 skipping breakfast had risen from 17 per cent in 1983 to 33 per cent in 2001. Among girls aged 14 or 15, the figure had gone from 24 per cent in 1984 to 41 per cent two years ago.

The report also found that the number of girls aged 14 or 15 going without lunch had risen from 2 per cent in 1984 to 18 per cent in 2001.

The report highlights a rise in the number of girls saying they wanted to lose weight. In 1991, 53 per cent of those aged 14 or 15 said they wanted to reduce their weight. Seven years later the percentage had risen to 63 per cent.