MORE than three in every 10 students captured in a recent survey by the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA) were overweight while 15.3 per cent of them were obese.

The Global School-based Health Survey (GSHS), which was conducted between January and March this year, had 3,058 respondents from 32 schools, with 76 per cent participation among students and 100 per cent from schools.

It confirmed fears that there has been an increase in the number of Jamaican students getting obese and overweight, while underweight remains a concern.

According to the survey, obesity moved from six per cent in 2010 to 15.3 per cent in 2026, while the number of overweight students jumped from 21.7 per cent in 2010 to 31.7 per cent in 2026.

TUFTON… parents and guardians must ensure their children eat healthy foods at home and school

At the same time, there was an uptick in underweight students, from 2.1 per cent in 2010 to 3.4 per cent in 2026.

The survey also found a dip in physical activity from 23.2 per cent in 2017 to 19.6 per cent in 2026, while 70.2 per cent reported less than eight hours of sleep, which can be attributed to the long hours students spend on the Internet as sedentary behaviour — sitting down for more than three hours per day increased from 56.4 per cent in 2017 to 68 per cent in 2026.

“Students [who are] less active, more sedentary, and many not getting enough sleep means that there is an increased risk of obesity, chronic diseases, poor academic performance, and mental health problems,” said the NCDA.

It called for more physical activity, greater promotion of recreation and sports, and encouragement for students to adopt healthy sleep habits.

The NCDA blamed unhealthy eating patterns for the rise in obesity among students, and recommended the promotion of healthy school food environment, expansion of nutrition education, and promotion of balanced diets.

But despite the increase in obesity and overweight, the survey found that in the 30 days before it was conducted there was a drop in consumption of one or more sodas per day by students.

In 2010 the NCDA found that 72.5 per cent on the respondents had consumed one or more sodas in the 30 days before the survey, while this year only 49.7 per cent of the respondents said they had done so in the past seven days.

The survey said underweight was highest among grade nine boys, 6.4 per cent, and grade 11 girls, 4.8 per cent.

Meanwhile, the highest rate of obesity was among grade seven girls, 43.2 per cent, and grade seven boys, 40.5 per cent.

The Global School-based Health Survey, noted the NCDA, provides high-quality data to inform decision-making and action for school and youth health.

In his reaction to the survey findings, Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton urged parents and guardians to ensure their children eat healthy foods at home and school.

He said it is always a better choice to take a meal from home to school if the school does not have facilities for the preparation of hot meals.

Tufton also urged parents and guardians to encourage their children to participate in more physical activities if they want to ensure that they do not fall victim to diabetes, heart disease, and other non-communicable diseases.

“Parents and guardians must insist that their children become more health conscious. Fast food and sugary beverages are not healthy, and I want to remind you parents that, should these young ones get diagnosed with a non-communicable disease, it will follow them into adulthood and put more stress on your resources as well as the health system,” said Tufton.

The NCDA said the survey has shown that healthy eating, regular physical activities, and adequate sleep are essential for the well-being, learning, and long-term health of Jamaica’s children and adolescents.

It added that the lack of physical activity increases the risk of obesity, chronic diseases, poor academic performance, and mental health problems.

The GSHS is an international gold-standard survey developed by World Health Organization, in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); United States Agency for International Development (USAID); and the United States-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It measures health behaviours and protective factors among students 13 to 17 years of age and is used in 110 countries.