Irish children eating fewer sweets, having more sex - survey

Children say they are smoking and drinking less, eating more fruit and vegetables, and fewer sweets, according to a national survey of health behaviour in school-aged children.

The Health Promotion Research Centre Survey of 13,611 children, aged eight to 17, found a drop in reported levels of smoking and drunkenness, but an increase in the number of older children who say they’ve had sex.

Occasions of smoking and drunkeness dropped between 2014 and the last study in 2010, while the numbers of students saying they had never consumed alcohol increased.

Smoking, alcohol use and cannabis use were more commonly reported among boys and older children. In 2010 a total of 28 per cent children said they had smoked, last year that fell to 16 per cent.

The numbers describing themselves as current smokers fell from 12 per cent to 8 per cent. However, a third of 12-17-year-olds said it was easy to buy cigarettes. Nearly two-thirds said it was easy to get someone else to buy them.

The number of children eating fruit once a day rose from 20 per cent in 2010 to 23 per cent in 2014. Similarly the numbers eating vegetables daily rose from 20 per cent to 22 per cent.

Meanwhile, sweets are less favoured than in the past with the number eating them every day falling 10 points to 27 per cent from 37 per cent in 2010. The number consuming a soft drink every day fell from 21 per cent in 2010 to 13 per cent last year.

Children aged between 15 and 17 years were asked about sex as part of the survey. Some 27 per cent said they have had sex, up from 23 per cent. More boys than girls said they had had sex, 31 per cent compared to 21 per cent. Of those who reported having sex, one third said they used the birth control pill as a form of contraception when last having intercourse, and almost three quarters said they used condoms.

Main Findings

Food and Dietary Behaviour: Reported levels of fruit and vegetable consumption have increased and consumption of sweets and soft drinks has decreased from 2010.

Exercise and Physical Activity: Reported levels of physical activity remained stable between 2010 and 2014.

Substance Use: There was an overall decrease in reported levels of smoking and drunkenness and an increase in levels of never drinking between 2010 and 2014.

Sexual Health Behaviours: Responses show 27per cent of 15-17 year olds reported that they have had sex, an increase from 2010 (23 per cent)

Physical Fighting and Bullying: The overall proportion of children who reported being in a physical fight has decreased from 2010. Children who reported bullying others in school has also decreased from 2010. The proportion of children who reported being bullied in school remained stable from 2010.