Studies indicate that in Saudi Arabia, 50 percent of six-year-old children and 80 percent of teenagers are overweight.

The most popular food items among children of all ages are chips and soft drinks, which they consume almost daily. They like to eat fast food, whether they are at home or out. Ordering food from outside is another problem parents are facing.

A survey carried out by Arab News among youths from different ages revealed that most of them did not like to eat at home. Youths above the age of 13, who spend most of their time with friends, order food at home even if they do not go out to eat.

Seven-year-old Warda, who used to eat food brought from home at school, said she got bored of the sandwich and pack of chips her mother put in her lunch box every day, so now she is eating i the school canteen.

“My mom always cooks the same old vegetables, but I love to eat chicken burger and chips from the canteen,” she said.

“Although my family and parents don’t like fast food, I love it, so sometimes I go out with my friends or I order it at home. Once a week, my parents take me to have fast food wherever I like. I also eat a big pack of chips and drink soda every day,” said 12-years-old Lifyar Ahmed.

Yousra Abdul Aziz, a teenager aged 17, said that her diet depended on her mood. Although she doesn’t like to eat vegetables, she does eat fruits sometimes, she said.

“I like fast food, so I eat it. No one can stop me. The problem with parents is that they don’t understand us. Whenever I try to talk with my mom, it turns into a fight, so I ignore her to avoid conflict,” said Yousra said.

Parents also blame modern technology for the behavior of their children. Arab News talked to mothers of children aged between 10 and 20.

They complain it is difficult to handle teenagers, as they don’t listen to them. Most of the time, their children go out and eat junk food instead of eating at home.

“My son, who is 15, goes out and eats fatty fast food almost thrice a week with his friends. When I try to stop him, he argues with me, although I make different types of food at home every day. He also spends SR10 on chips and soft drinks daily, which is not good, but he doesn’t listen,” said Hinar Ahmed.

Eating fast food every other day substantially increases the intake of energy, protein and fat. Apart of this, children lack physical activities,” commented Amal Rashid.

She advised parents to prevent their youngsters from going out every time by introducing new food, changing the dishes and environment in which they eat, preparing the food their children like to eat at home, or bringing in more variety.

According to Dr. Manal Mourad, the new generation insists on getting their way and does not listen: Vegetables and fruits are not their favorite food.

“On weekdays I cook food at home, but my children don’t like to eat vegetables or fruits. They only like to eat fried things, even at home. Things have changed: Going out on weekends has become a status symbol as well as a style of life,” she said.

Hinar Ahmed said it has become a community problem. Children nowadays follow their friends, no matter if their parents try to stop them from their bad eating habits or not. “

It has become a fashion to eat out or order food from outside. I tried to stop my son from eating out every day for health reasons, but he thought I was trying to stop him because of money. As a result, he said he would pay for his food from his own pocket, but I shouldn’t stop him from eating food from outside,” he said.