But increasing numbers are becoming overweight because they spend too much time on non-physical activities such as watching TV and playing computer games. The study by the Sodexho Research Institute on Quality of Daily Life, looked at the differences between the eating habits of boys and girls aged five to 17. Boys spend more time on meals than girls Children's dietician and nutritionist Maureen Strong told BBC News Online the low calorie intake of girls was worrying. We need a big push to encourage girls to carry on taking exercise during their teenage years so they don't have problems with their weight. The study covered 11 countries across the world, and looked at 400 pieces of research and 5.7m statistics, compiled over 40 years.
Boys think taste is more important, and see food as fuel for their more active lifestyles.
Girls should be encouraged to raise their calorie intake at the same time as leading a more active lifestyle. Mrs Strong said teenagers should be better educated about how to balance their diets. The government is to produce nutritional standards for schools later this year in a bid to improve school meals.