Kids at risk of weight gain, high blood pressure and high cholesterol from lunch box laziness, study shows

Ultra-processed lunch boxes are putting Victorian kids at risk of unhealthy weight gain, high blood pressure and cholesterol issues, a new study has found.

Siblings Jake and Ella Steneker, 8 and 10, love a yummy lunch box snack but parents are being urged to pick healthy items. . Picture: Tim Carrafa

Lunch box laziness is putting Victorian kids at risk of unhealthy weight gain, high blood pressure and cholesterol issues, a new study has found.

The alarming research by Deakin University’s Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN) found 8-12-year-olds were getting 47 per cent of their daily energy intake from cakes, biscuits, pastries, lollies, packaged snacks, sugary drinks and fast food.

IPAN’s Carley Grimes said ultra-processed lunch boxes were especially worrying for young children building “lifelong” habits.

“UPFs include ingredients you wouldn’t usually find in a home kitchen such as artificial colours, flavours, preservatives, and other additives,” she said.

“They are also high in added sugars, salt, and unhealthy fats.

“It is really concerning that at an age when lifelong eating habits are being formed, nearly half the daily calories in primary school children are coming from UPFs.”

A lack of essential nutrients and fibre needed for healthy growth is another common characteristic of these red flag foods, according to Dr Grimes.

“This is the first study to report on ultra-processed food intake in Victorian primary schoolchildren,” she said.

“Previous research in children has also shown the link between UPFs and health problems like high blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol levels.”

More than 680 primary school children across Victoria participated in the study, which was published in leading research journal Pediatric Obesity last month.

The students took part in a 24-hour dietary recall where they were asked to detail everything they had eaten and drunk the day before.

According to the findings, the top five sources of UPFs in the children’s diets were pastries, buns, and cakes (5 per cent of total daily energy), biscuits (5 per cent), confectionery (5 per cent), breakfast cereals (4 per cent) and fast food (4 per cent).

Only a third (32 per cent) of daily energy came from unprocessed foods, like fresh fruit, vegetables, and plain grains.

Dr Grimes added health impacts were most noticeable in children aged 10-12-years-old, who were more likely to gain extra weight if their diets were high in UPFs.

“An important finding was that boys and children with parents who had lower education levels were more likely to eat more UPFs overall and this information will help us better understand which groups might need more support when it comes to healthy eating,” she added.

“By being aware of the high consumption of UPFs and its potential effects, parents, schools and policymakers can take action to promote healthier eating habits.”

Jake and Ella Steneker. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Siblings Jake and Ella Steneker, 8 and 10, love a yummy lunch box snack but mum Jean Crewe always makes sure there are healthy items in there.

“My children enjoy a pretty healthy diet with lots of fruit and veggies and I do try to limit the amount of ultra-processed treats in their lunch boxes and after school but they’re always looking around to see what their friends are eating so it can be hard to keep that balance sometimes,” she said.

Originally published as Kids at risk of weight gain, high blood pressure and high cholesterol from lunch box laziness, study shows