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Original poster

British children shorter due to poor diet

249 replies

Catosaurus · 07/07/2023 21:47

Experts have said a poor national diet and cuts to the NHS are to blame. But they have also pointed out that height is a strong indicator of general living conditions, including illness and infection, stress, poverty and sleep quality. Food experts point out that a diet of cheap junk food makes people simultaneously overweight and undernourished.

Has it really become this bad? I’m not from England, but this is on the news today.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/jun/21/children-raised-under-uk-austerity-shorter-than-european-peers-study

Children raised under UK austerity shorter than European peers, study finds

Average height of boys and girls aged five has slipped due to poor diet and NHS cuts, experts say

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/jun/21/children-raised-under-uk-austerity-shorter-than-european-peers-study

OP posts:
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6
FFSCarrieBradshaw · 08/07/2023 14:52

LinMortisanass · 08/07/2023 14:20

Another day, another thing to feel guilty about. So my DD is shorter than the rest of her class because I don't cook from scratch every single day. I'm an even worse mum than I thought I was, thanks for this info.

Oi! I'm telling you, quite firmly, that you do not need to take this thread in any way, as a comment on your parenting.

I have what can only be described as a short-arsed son, he knows he's short, everyone knows he's short. He'll probably never be taller than me.

That's not because I'm a shit mother. I'm an excellent mother.

He's an excellent young man.

He's just a bit short. Was born of the 4th centile and never really made much progress on the height thing!

TeddyFluff · 08/07/2023 15:26

I cook from scratch every day and my eldest is short 😂

Harrypewter · 08/07/2023 15:49

My brother and I had to share an apple. Dad literally broke it in half.
He's 6 2 and 18 stone.

Dutch1e · 08/07/2023 15:56

KnittedCardi · 08/07/2023 12:04

How do you blame immigration or genetics for the sharp increase in children being seen for rickets and scurvy? Scurvy ffs, and rickets?! You don't get these things from a short grandmother

Because 85% of children with rickets are Black or Asian. It's not a secret, or racist. Skin colour and lack of Vitamin D and dairy in diet leads to more rickets in these communities, and the uptake of Vitamin D supplements is low.

I'm not quite sure if you're saying Black kids or kids of Asian descent can't be British, or if you're (incorrectly) saying that immigration has skewed the results.

And I'm really unsure how you're explaining away the uptick in scurvy?

Dutch1e · 08/07/2023 16:07

FFSCarrieBradshaw · 08/07/2023 12:20

So, yes, white-skinned people are set up genetically for Northern latitudes, and are able to produce vitamin D from exposure at low levels of sunlight. Obviously people with darker skin are genetically set up for high level sunlight exposure and are not able to produce enough vitamin D from regular exposure to UV light as is available at northern latitudes.

I'd absolutely use a supplement if I was dark-skinned and lived in the UK. This is information that people need.

Show quote history

None of that explains why, even with the same proportion of ethnicities, the UK average height of 5 yr olds has dropped 30-odd places in the rankings, and the number of kids being seen for malnourishment spiked over the austerity timeframe. Unless white people can also magically create their own Vitamin C as well?

FFSCarrieBradshaw · 08/07/2023 16:32

@Dutch1e

I was answering @KnittedCardi's post.

Not commenting in general!

Rickets is a disease of poverty, it was prevalent in the UK when children worked in factories, didn't get much natural sunlight and had a very poor and limited diet.

It's possible that these conditions are mirrored in modern living in certain circumstances.

A very quick Google told me that 'rickets in the UK' has been a concern, be that a real concern or an 'Internet concern' since 2010.

I'm not entirely sure that current concerns about rickets/height/obesity/malnutrition are not more about classicism or racism than actual care about life and how we live and how we can all live well.

We all deserve to live well.

Gwenhwyfar · 09/07/2023 10:00

LessonLearnedOrLearnt · 08/07/2023 13:52

Peanut butter is loaded with so many good, health-promoting nutrients, including vitamin E, magnesium, iron, selenium and vitamin B6. Research shows that people who regularly eat nuts and nut butter, including peanut butter, are less likely to develop heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

There you go.

Plenty of healthy cereals. Wasn't suggesting Sugar Puffs.

Peanut butter is not a breakfast cereal.
Of the breakfast foods, Weetabix is not too bad, but most of them are really not healthy.

Gwenhwyfar · 09/07/2023 10:01

LakieLady · 08/07/2023 13:09

@Orchidgal has nailed it imo.

My stepson's daughter , nearly 8, is a giant, tallest in her year by quite a bit despite being a July birthday and among the youngest. She's dairy intolerant, so it's nowt to do with eating lots of dairy.

You cannot really be making these assumptions based on ONE person?
Surely you can't really mean what you wrote?

Sweetashunni · 09/07/2023 10:13

All bran is fine isn’t it? Just your plain one?

Sweetashunni · 09/07/2023 10:30

Dutch1e · 08/07/2023 16:07

None of that explains why, even with the same proportion of ethnicities, the UK average height of 5 yr olds has dropped 30-odd places in the rankings, and the number of kids being seen for malnourishment spiked over the austerity timeframe. Unless white people can also magically create their own Vitamin C as well?

Show quote history

I really think it’s all the childhood illnesses they had after the lockdowns. Coughs, colds, D&V, foot and mouth, chicken pox. Children being ill is normal, but children being ill every other week? That isn’t normal and I can see how over a year or so this could have a significant impact on their growth by the age of 5.

Dutch1e · 09/07/2023 11:45

Sweetashunni · 09/07/2023 10:30

I really think it’s all the childhood illnesses they had after the lockdowns. Coughs, colds, D&V, foot and mouth, chicken pox. Children being ill is normal, but children being ill every other week? That isn’t normal and I can see how over a year or so this could have a significant impact on their growth by the age of 5.

Show quote history

The timeframe studied was 2010 - 2019. No lockdowns in those years as far as I'm aware.

Sweetashunni · 09/07/2023 20:18

My 4 year old loves it Confused should I be giving something else?? I don’t have time to faff about making eggs or porridge every morning

Original poster
Catosaurus · 09/07/2023 20:20

Sweetashunni · 09/07/2023 10:13

All bran is fine isn’t it? Just your plain one?

Sadly not. Weetabix or some muesli’s (or make your own in a big batch).

OP posts:
CatsSnore · 09/07/2023 20:42

My ds (older teen) loves bran and always has done. He would admittedly take fruit and fibre over bran, I'm sure the sugar from the dried fruit isn't particularly amazing but yes bran is one of the cereals I sometimes buy alongside frosties, sugar puffs, cinnamon squares.

I'm not an UPF free house. I go through stages of it. I know it's better but life happens and sometimes I treat my teens to sugary crap. My kids are tall though 😂😂😂

Original poster
Catosaurus · 09/07/2023 20:50

CatsSnore · 09/07/2023 20:42

My ds (older teen) loves bran and always has done. He would admittedly take fruit and fibre over bran, I'm sure the sugar from the dried fruit isn't particularly amazing but yes bran is one of the cereals I sometimes buy alongside frosties, sugar puffs, cinnamon squares.

I'm not an UPF free house. I go through stages of it. I know it's better but life happens and sometimes I treat my teens to sugary crap. My kids are tall though 😂😂😂

Life would be pretty boring without any sugar..

OP posts:
Girasoli · 09/07/2023 21:18

crackofdoom Same in Italy, I'm 35 and at 5'3" I'm one of the tallest of my generation of female cousins. All the teenage cousins otoh are giants!

I think my parents generation ate pretty well, but my grandma's were little girls/teens during WW2 and didn't get that much to eat.

EmeraldFox · 09/07/2023 21:27

Catosaurus · 09/07/2023 20:50

Life would be pretty boring without any sugar..

Show quote history

Doesn't much interest me to be honest. I like muesli but it usually has too much dried fruit for my taste. Fried eggs and mushrooms with butter are much more exciting.

Wenfy · 09/07/2023 21:52

FFSCarrieBradshaw · 08/07/2023 12:20

So, yes, white-skinned people are set up genetically for Northern latitudes, and are able to produce vitamin D from exposure at low levels of sunlight. Obviously people with darker skin are genetically set up for high level sunlight exposure and are not able to produce enough vitamin D from regular exposure to UV light as is available at northern latitudes.

I'd absolutely use a supplement if I was dark-skinned and lived in the UK. This is information that people need.

Show quote history

Rickets isn’t a black or Asian disease. It tends to be a Muslimborn (as opposed to convert) woman’s disease - which is why NHS resources tend to be focussed towards them. Even in Leicester and North London where rates are rising you rarely see rickets in Hindu / Nepali communities.

Scurvy however is definitely a poor white English disease.

WeeWillyWinkie9 · 09/07/2023 21:55

I think it is down to time. We have a culture of working every hour God sends and not giving time to cook health home made meals.
My cousin came from abroad and was shocked at the ready meals and how many of them there are. She asked why people just don't cook. They don't have the time or are too knackered. I know I am.

Original poster
Catosaurus · 11/07/2023 23:32

WeeWillyWinkie9 · 09/07/2023 21:55

I think it is down to time. We have a culture of working every hour God sends and not giving time to cook health home made meals.
My cousin came from abroad and was shocked at the ready meals and how many of them there are. She asked why people just don't cook. They don't have the time or are too knackered. I know I am.

I’d say many peoole were way more knackered 100 years ago or so tbf. But they had no choice, no ready meals to be had..my mil’s mum and dad with family were so knackered and hungry they emigrated to the other side of the world.

OP posts:
Original poster
Catosaurus · 11/07/2023 23:33

Mummyford · 11/07/2023 11:30

Show quote history

I’ll have a look. Thanks.

OP posts:
WeeWillyWinkie9 · 11/07/2023 23:51

Catosaurus · 11/07/2023 23:32

I’d say many peoole were way more knackered 100 years ago or so tbf. But they had no choice, no ready meals to be had..my mil’s mum and dad with family were so knackered and hungry they emigrated to the other side of the world.

Show quote history

I'm not sure, kids did more for themselves back then and didn't have to be entertained at all times, they actually helped make the meals and cleaned etc.
Plus there were many of them to help do those jobs too. In my house I don't have time to cook. I work 100 hours a week, I don't have ready meals but I do not eat well at all. Cereal or toast for tea is as much as I manage.

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