A new campaign aims to educate teenage schoolgirls across Mayo on how they can choose healthier and more active lifestyles.
The campaign is part of a Unislim initiative launched last week, called Miss Feelgood.
It has developed a new eating guide, which it is promoting as the first ‘healthy eating and lifestyle bible’ for teenage girls in Ireland.
Now, Miss Feelgood ambassadors are set to visit secondary schools across the county and deliver free 90-minute seminars to schoolgirls in a bid to educate and motivate them to make healthier eating choices.
A survey conducted by Miss Feelgood ahead of the launch found that nearly half of teenage girls in Ireland are eating ‘treats’ at least once a day while more than a third (37 per cent ) consume fizzy drinks daily.
One of the most startling findings of the survey was that six per cent of teenage girls have used diet pills in an effort to control their weight.
The survey quizzed 300 girls aged between 12 and 17 on their diets and lifestyles.
A quarter of the girls surveyed said they eat just one piece of fruit per day instead of the recommended three for their age group, and more than one in 10 (12 per cent ) said their family never sit down to eat a meal together.
“The Mis Feelgood guide is about getting girls a little bit inspired when it comes to healthy eating and how they can make small changes that have a very positive impact on their health and wellbeing.”
A similar guide aimed at teenage boys is also in the pipeline.
Principals and teachers in Mayo can sign-up to have a Miss Feelgood ambassador visit their school by contacting Mary Andrews at [email protected] or by telephone at 1850 603020.
