Glasgow kids take care of their health

Glasgow teenagers are showing their elders that they know best when it comes to a healthy lifestyle. Although cancer statistics in Scotland are traditionally high, youngsters appear to have heeded health warnings according to a Cancer Research UK survey¹.

It revealed that among 13-16 year olds hardly any boys admitted to smoking and 80 per cent of the girls ate vegetables regularly. Well over half the 10-16 year-olds surveyed said they worried about their health and an astonishing 80 per cent said they would change their habits to reduce the risk of illness in the future.

While the boys shunned tobacco , 25 per cent of 13-16 year old girls admitted to smoking. But girls beat the boys at healthy eating with 80 per cent of them regularly eating vegetables as against just 50 per cent of the boys.

The bad news, though, is that two thirds of the teenagers surveyed failed to protect their skin in the sun.

The children answered questions on science, health and lifestyle habits at Tomorrow’s World roadshow in the city centre where they were entertained by a travelling pop band, created by Cancer Research UK.

The all-singing, all-dancing band performed a music spectacular designed to inform teenagers about science and cancer.

The band has been performing with the help of an interactive space capsule and science information robot to help put across the charity’s message: to overcome cancer through education, fundraising, recruitment, lifestyle and research.

By stimulating children’s interest in science the charity is hoping that more youngsters will be inspired to take up a career working in the fight against cancer.

The survey found that almost two thirds of 10-16 year olds in Glasgow said they were excited by science. And although nearly half the boys, aged 10-12 wanted to be sportsmen, nearly half the teenage boys wanted to be computer experts. But more than a third of the girls between the ages of 10 and 16 wanted to be a popstar.

Dr Lesley Walker, Director of Information at Cancer Research UK, says says: “This is very good news for Scotland where incidence of cancer has been traditionally high. It seems that teenagers are taking on board health warnings and are determined to lead healthier lives. We know that children aged 11 to 16 are actively making decisions that will influence their future health.

“It’s crucial that Cancer Research UK gets in early to inform these kids and encourages them to form healthy habits for life. Using a pop band to get this message across is a fantastic idea.

“It’s very easy to presume that we know how kids feel. We believe that we have a lot to learn about children’s attitudes and their aspirations for the future and the more we understand, the easier it will be for us to help.”

ENDS