Break times in school have been slashed by an hour over two decades, helping fuel the ongoing problem of child obesity. Break times in school have been slashed by an hour over two decades, helping fuel the ongoing problem of child obesityThe study, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, compared data from more than 1,000 primary and secondary schools in 2017 to data collected in 2006 and 1995. Lead author, Dr Ed Baines said: ‘Despite the length of the school day remaining much the same, break times are being squeezed even further with potential serious implications for children’s well-being and development. In 1995, 13 per cent of secondary schools reported an afternoon break period, while now only one per cent of secondary schools report having one. Lunch breaks have also been cut down, with a quarter of secondary schools now reporting lunchtimes of 35 minutes or less.

Source: Daily Mail May 09, 2019 23:03 UTC