ADD ANOTHER NAIL to the coffin of the Common Entrance Examination.
A leading physician, healthy lifestyle advocate and paediatrician has blamed the exam for contributing to the thickening waistlines of Barbados’ children, especially girls.
Professor Anne St John said yesterday there appeared to be a link between studying for the exam that determined which secondary school a child would attend, and the increase in weight of those children.
She was speaking as the Heart and Stroke Foundation released the results of its commissioned poll, designed by co-director of the Caribbean Development Research Services (CADRES), Corey Sandiford, on childhood obesity. The launch was held at Hilton Barbados.
The results revealed that 83 per cent of the 816 Barbadians polled were very concerned about obesity, while 88 per cent were concerned about childhood obesity. Sixty-two per cent said the current food environment in schools was not healthy, while 72 per cent felt there should be a restriction on unhealthy food and beverage sales. (HLE)
Subscribe now to our eNATION edition.
For the latest stories and breaking news updates download the Nationnews apps for iOS and Android.
