The Irish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Study (HBSC)

The Irish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Study has released a new report based on data collected in 2018.

This study looks at a number of topics such as general health, smoking, use of alcohol and other substances, food and dietary behaviour, exercise and physical activity, and sexual health behaviours amongst children between the ages of 10 and 17 years old.

The main findings in relation to diet and physical activity are:

Children are eating the same amount of fruit and vegetables as in 2014 (23% eat fruit and 21% vegetables at least once a day).
Children are eating less sweets and soft drinks (21% report eating sweets once or more a day compared to 27% in 2014; and 7% drinking soft drinks once or more a day as to 13% in 2014).
Children are doing the same amount of exercise as in 2014 with 52% exercising four or more times a week.

This study was carried out by the Health Promotion Research Centre in National University Ireland (NUI) Galway and funded by the Department of Health.