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Essay on Health and Fitness

List of essays on health and fitness, essay on health and fitness – short essay for children (essay 1 – 200 words), essay on health and fitness – how to be healthy and fit (essay 2 – 250 words), essay on health and fitness (essay 3 – 300 words), essay on health and fitness – for school students (class 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10) (essay 4 – 400 words), essay on health and fitness (essay 5 – 500 words), essay on health and fitness – for college students (essay 6 – 600 words), essay on health and fitness – how to maintain a good health and fitness (essay 7 – 750 words), essay on health and fitness – long essay for university students (essay 8 – 1000 words).

Health and fitness are two concepts that go hand in hand. Our health is the totality of our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Fitness, on the other hand, is a state of control over our body. Thus, we could be physical, mentally and emotionally fit. Consequently, health and fitness can be regarded as a way to attaining control over our body.

Audience: The below given essays are exclusively written for children, school students (Class 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 Standard) and college students.

Introduction:

Health and fitness are a very important aspect of life that includes having both physically and mentally fit body. With the help of a balanced diet and regular exercise a person can improve his or her health and fitness.

Relationship between Health and Fitness:

A good health means that a person is physically and mentally strong and fitness refers to the ability of the person to encounter the demands of the environment. The person possessing good health and fitness can enjoy his/her life completely.

How to Maintain Health and Fitness:

The following are the ways that can help in maintaining health and fitness:

1. Doing the daily exercise for at least 30 minutes.

2. Eating balanced and healthy food in limited quantity and at the right time.

3. Adequate sleeping and waking up early in the morning.

Benefits of Health and Fitness:

Below are the benefits of health and fitness for a person:

1. Reduces the risk of diseases like diabetes, obesity, etc.

2. Helps in healing the injuries quickly.

3. Increases the lifespan of the person.

4. Decreases stress and anxiety.

Conclusion:

With daily exercise and proper diet, a person can achieve good health and fitness. It not only makes the person happy but also makes him/her free of stress and worries.

Health and fitness is the real wealth a person should acquire to lead a peaceful and harmonious life. A person without both, may face many difficulties and find their real money spend on their health issues rapidly.

How to be Healthy and Fit?

Health and fitness are not only about physical appearance or muscle, but it is also about being internally, mentally and emotionally fit that will largely influence your day to day life. In earlier days people like our grandparents have kept good care of their health and fitness through healthy food and by leading a better lifestyle.

The recent generation was more ignorant of their health and fitness, but the situation has changed a lot recently. Better awareness about the importance of health and fitness has made everyone seriously working on this problem and find ways to stay healthier.

The basic step towards fitness is by keeping yourself calm and relaxed. This will help you in being both mentally and bodily fit to some extent. Exercises and other forms of workouts like dancing, yoga, etc., are the best ways to keep yourself fit and these practices will also, in turn, help you to be calm and composed.

Health and fitness play in your life a major role in keeping you and the people around you happy as well as healthy. Avoid those bad habits that will not only ruin your body and mind but also influence badly on the others around you, both mentally and physically. Health and fitness can be maintained through regular workouts, healthier food, and other healthier habits.

People often take the terms health and fitness as one and they do not think too much about the difference that is present in them. The thing is they can be treated as one but in some situations, they can exclude each other. Health and fitness represent the two most desirable features of every person’s life. The great thing about this fact is that you can create such a life for yourself.

The Difference:

Health and fitness represent the two most important aspects of our lives and this is especially true when you are a student and you need to advance through your studies and early career. Health is usually considered as the total physical wellbeing of the organism and its ability to fight off infections and disease. Fitness represents the bodies physical strength and overall ability to sustain physical exertion.

The Importance:

When we consider how important health and fitness are for the effectiveness of our endeavors it becomes clear why so many people have an obsession with them. This is why I consider that it is important for every person to have a personal health and fitness routine that they can implement in their daily lives. Regardless of what we do in life such a routine can do us good and create habits that we can practice to sustain an optimal level of productivity.

The only thing one should remember is that too much fitness can cause problems for your health, so balance is key. Otherwise having a health and fitness routine can only be good for you and all the endeavors you want to make in your career or personal life. Today’s world is all about health and fitness so every person has all the necessary tools they could ever need to make the best combination of diet and exercise for themselves.

Health and fitness are one of the most important aspect of life. Without these, the life will be very unhappy and dreadful. An unhealthy person will not be able to enjoy their life to full extent. We are all so busy in our lives that we start neglecting our health. This starts to affect our lives negatively and can lead to some severe problems.

What is meant by health and fitness?

Health of a person is defined as state of being free from any illness and injury. Along with the physical condition, it also includes the mental and social well-being of the person. Fitness is the condition of being physically fit and healthy so that the person is able to tackle the demands of the surrounding environment.

Importance of Health and Fitness:

For a successful, happy and peaceful life, health and fitness are very important. If a person is healthy and fit, he/she can live the life to its fullest extent. Health and fitness just does not mean physically but also mentally and healthy fit. There are many benefits of maintaining health and fitness of the body, like it lowers the risk of diseases like heart attack, high BP, obesity, and stroke; increases longevity of life, reduces stress, provides better quality of life and many others.

How to maintain health and fitness?

There are many ways to maintain your health and fitness. Certain activities should be followed daily like regular physical exercise. It can be a simple activity as climbing stairs instead of taking lift or elevator, walking more rather than taking car to go to different places. It is important to eat proper and clean food at the right time. The food should also be rich in nutrition such as high in fibre, low in fat, high protein content and have more vitamins. Proper sleeping pattern is also important to maintain health and fitness.

For any of these activities, it is important to be self-motivated. The fitness activities should be a part of your daily routine. All this will not only maintain your health and fitness but also improve your lifestyle.

It is important to maintain health and fitness of not just our physical self but our mental self as well, to have a happy and fulfilled life. The maintenance of these should be taught to children at a young age so that they are used to doing certain activities and are motivated to continue doing them as they grow up.

Obesity, depressions, diabetes are some of the adverse effects of neglecting our physical or mental health and fitness. These conditions can lead to serious health challenges and in some extreme cases death. To reduce the risk of these we must keep fit at all times. We shall now examine the physical and mental dynamics of keeping fit mentally and physically.

Physical Health and Fitness:

Physical health and fitness refer to all form of positive steps we take to keep our body in good shape. Hence, it would include physical exercise and maintaining a healthy diet. It also involves constant medical checks to eliminate the risk of certain ailments.

The importance of constant exercise to our physical health and fitness cannot be overemphasized. Physical exercises ensure that our metabolic system is in great shape. Our metabolic system determines how much fat is stored in our body and the rate at which our body processes fat. Consequently, when we engage in physical exercise we store less fat in our body which is good for our overall health.

Another major factor that affects our physical health and fitness is eating healthy. While some food is great for our health, others can lead to damaging effects. Also, taking meals in the right property is a big part of keeping fit. Finally, though there might be conflicting information about what a good diet is, it is important to always eat in moderation.

Some of the benefits of physical health and fitness are as follows:

1. It helps you keep your cholesterol low.

2. It reduces blood pressure.

3. It increases the heart function and reduces the risk of heart-related conditions.

4. It improves our immune system such that we fall sick less often.

5. Increase in strength of muscles and bones.

Mental and Psychological Health and Fitness:

A lot of attention is usually given to physical health and fitness while neglecting our mental wellbeing. However, keeping our mind the same and our health sane is just as important as treating our body the same. Mental strain can affect our productivity and mood. It could also lead to serious health challenges such as depression and other mental illness.

To attain mental health and fitness we must keep our brain engaged with positive activities.

Some of these activities are as follows:

1. Reading intellectual materials that stimulate brain function.

2. Engaging in constant meditation to keep our mind focused.

3. Getting enough sleep on a daily basis.

4. Engaging less in tasks that can cause mental strain.

Health and fitness encompass every area of our life including the way we treat our environment. Consequently, we must always keep fit to have a fulfilling life, therefore, there is a saying – health is wealth.

Health and fitness are two separate words that are related because they influence each other. Health is defined as the state of wellbeing in which a person is free from illness and injury. Fitness is the state of being healthy and physically fit. Health is influenced by fitness and fitness is influenced by health. The trends in health and fitness are continuous and people strive to achieve both in their lives. Health and fitness continues to undergo transformation in the changing times especially with the influence of technology. It is important to be healthy and fit because of the benefits enjoyed.

How to be Healthy and Fit :

Health and fitness is a process that requires proper understanding. Health and fitness is something that someone has to have a purpose and stick to it in order to be successful at it. It is a challenge to remain health and fit because of the commitment it requires and the work that has to be done. Accepting the challenge is the first step into health and fitness. It is also important to find a partner with whom you can exercise with. It is something you can do with your spouse or a colleague at work just for the motivation. A workout schedule has to be formulated together with a dietary schedule.

Healthy foods should be a balanced diet but with less amounts of calories. However, calories should not be undertaken because exercise requires burning of calories for energy. Staying healthy and fit means that you have to eat well and exercise well and a schedule is important because it keeps you on track. It is also important to set goals like losing a certain amount of weight so that the goal will motivate you in remaining healthy and fit.

Health and fitness is of great significance in the lives of individuals. It helps in preventing lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Physical fitness involves the burning of unnecessary fat in our bodies which helps to reduce the cholesterol in our blood. Having less cholesterol in the body reduces the chances of developing high blood pressure. Also, when exercising, we use up the calories in our bodies and therefore blood glucose is maintained at normal levels and thus reduces the chances of developing diabetes.

It is also important to remain healthy and fit in order to maintain normal body weight. The food we eat and activities we do influence our body weight. Being inactive and consuming unhealthy foods such as fast food could result in serious weight issues like obesity. Obesity is having a body mass index that is greater than 30. It has been associated with many chronic illnesses such as heart diseases and diabetes. In order to remain within normal body weight, health and fitness has to be prioritized.

Safety and self-defense is influenced by health and fitness. Being physically fit means that you are able to run and you are strong enough to defend yourself. Knowing how to fight is not an aspect of health and fitness. The ability to run fast is considered safe because you can always escape danger. Being unfit is disadvantageous in situations of danger because you will experience difficulty.

Health and fitness is definitely important in the lives of individuals. Schools emphasize on health and fitness because by training young children on health and fitness, it positively influences their lives. Health and fitness does not necessarily mean hitting the gym every now and then but it is about the simple exercises and the food we eat.

Health and fitness when properly maintained goes a long way in helping a person remain in a general state of well-being and health. Health and fitness can provide us with the ability to be able to perform activities that are physical without being restless or tired. If we want to maintain a very good health and fitness, we have to engage in physical exercise regularly and eat balanced diets. It is very important that we maintain our health and fitness so that we can stay healthy, fit, without fear of different diseases and also get all of the numerous benefits that come along with a healthy living.

A person that has good and proper health and fitness gets to live and enjoy his/her very well to the possible best. It is very necessary that every one of us in life lives a life of mental and physical fitness so that we can enjoy a life that is happy and healthy.

When we are fit and healthy, the probability of us falling ill and experiencing various medical conditions drops. When we talk about medical fitness, a lot of people assume it is just physical fitness but it is a lot more than that, overall fitness means we have to be fit both mentally and physically. We can only achieve a state of good mental fitness if we become physically fit.

If we want to remain very fit and healthy, the best way we can do that is through relieving our mind of all forms of stress through eating a balanced diet and regular exercise. If we maintain a weight that is ideal, we tend to be less prone to a lot of health conditions including cardiac problems. When we remain active physically, our mind is always relaxed. Fit and healthy people tend to face and overcome all the various problems life brings their way easily without suffering.

How one can maintain a Good Health and Fitness:

Today, there a lot of ways through which we can stay fit and healthy if we decide to abide by them.

Some of them include:

1. We should do our best to involve ourselves regularly in physical exercises every day by taking a little time out of our very hectic schedule. If we decide to take about 30 minutes or 60 minutes every day to exercise about five to six times in a week. We should be able to get enough exercise that would be ideal for us to stay fit.

2. Eating clean and healthy food in the proper quantity and in the appropriate time is quite important if we want to stay fit and healthy. The best way to attain good health is by a healthy nutrition that contains low fat, high fibre, very rich sources of minerals and vitamins, and high protein.

3. If we want to stay healthy and fit, we have to observe a very good sleep habit and pattern. It is very important that we keep a very high level of discipline in all of our routine daily and also try to focus on getting and maintain a sleeping pattern that commences and stops at the proper time. It is advised that we get about eight hours of sleep every night as this can help in boosting the immune system. Getting good hours of sleep can also go a long way in helping us prevent cardiovascular diseases and also goes a long way in improving the mood. We do not get enough sleep, we are very likely to suffer from a variety of mental disorders and sleep disorders.

Importance of Good Health and Fitness:

1. Reduces stress, anxiety level and depression.

2. It helps in improving the quality of one’s life.

3. It goes a long way in getting to live a little longer.

4. It helps in the healing of injuries quickly.

5. It can also help us increase our level of confidence.

6. It goes a long way to help us feel a lot better both mentally and physically.

7. It helps us in decreasing the risk of getting diseases like breast cancer, stroke, obesity, heart diseases and diabetes.

Routine exercise and physical activities on a regular basis is quite necessary for everybody irrespective of their ages but most especially the younger generation (children). Health and fitness can help us accomplish a lot of happiness in this life. Health and fitness can also go a long way in helping us live a live that is free of disease and stress.

Health and fitness help a person live a good and healthy life. Often due to various pressures at personal and professional level, we tend to ignore our health. This makes our body suffer and we catch up with lifestyle and other diseases. It is the fitness level of our body which helps us fight these diseases. If we are fit we are able to overcome these diseases or else we end up being victims of a modern lifestyle.

Definition and Relation:

Health and fitness are interrelated to each other. We need to be fit to have a healthy body. Similarly, if we are healthy we shall naturally be attracted towards maintaining the fitness of our body. Health is the state of our body at a given time. We may not have any disease but still, have a weak body which is ready to be targeted by a number of bacteria and viruses.

For instance, we may have a tendency to catch a cold easily. This does not definitely mean that we are not healthy. It means that our fitness levels are not in accordance with our age and the climatic conditions we live in. it all depends on our health which in turn is dependent on our fitness levels. So health and fitness move together.

Also, the fitness level is the state of our body based on our age, climatic conditions we live in, our lifestyle and our working conditions. One can see people having great fitness levels even in older age. For example, every morning in different parks you can two types of old people. One who is just meditating and sitting at one quietly enjoying the fresh air while the others who are jogging or walking briskly on tracks. They can even compete with the young people on the track. These are two types of fitness levels at the same age. It is all about how to fit we keep ourselves.

Moreover, you can see young people who are not able to climb stairs and tend to get tired easily. It is all because of their low levels of fitness that they are not able to keep good health. They are less fit as compared to other people of their age who keep themselves fit. The people who keep themselves fit keep their body healthy. So fitness levels decide the quality of our health.

How to maintain Health and Fitness:

It is important for everyone to devote some time to health and fitness. There are some activities which everyone should do in their daily lives. For instance, we must exercise daily irrespective of our age and working style. There are different levels of exercises for different age groups and we must do them as per our own health and age. Exercise keeps our healthy and fit. It keeps our body moving. Our muscles tend to contract if we do not make good use of them. Regular exercise stops them from contracting and improves our energy levels as well. One must devote at least some of the day for exercises.

Similarly, walking for some time in a day is a must for all. In fact, walking is considered the best exercise and is suited to all ages and fitness levels. It is important for maintaining health and fitness.

Additionally apart from walking and exercises, it is also important to relax our body. Therefore we should have at least six to eight hours of sleep every day. It is necessary to maintain proper levels of health and fitness. Moreover, it also helps in improving our immune system and prevents us from a number of diseases as well. Also, it helps in keeping us calm and relaxes our mind. This, in turn, reduces our stress and gives us new goals of health and fitness.

Importance of Food in Health and Fitness:

Food plays a vital role in maintaining health and fitness of our body. Our body absorbs nutrients from the food we eat. So we do not eat proper food our body does not get the required nutrients. This lowers the levels of health and fitness of our body and we are prone to a number of diseases. Therefore health experts usually say that we become what we eat.

So, in order to remain healthy and fit we must have a proper diet which contains the required amount of carbohydrates, fats, vitamin, proteins and minerals. We should eat vegetables and fruits as they provide us with the required vitamins and minerals. Milk provides us calcium which is essential for our bones. Additionally, we must stay away from junk food. Junk food contains excess amounts of carbohydrates and fats which get accumulated in our body and make us fat. The excess weight of our body makes us lazy and we catch up diseases more easily.

We must respect the body God has given us and take care of it in a good manner. We must neglect ourselves for the sake of work and other activities in our life. It is important to understand that we can perform our duties in life properly only we pay attention to the health and fitness levels of our body. Otherwise, although we may want to do something but our body may not support us. Hence we may not able to achieve our goals in life.

It is not necessary to be an athlete to have a good body. Every person in the world needs to have a healthy and fit body so as to stay away from disease and have a long and healthy life. Moreover, we must remember our importance for our families and society. If we suffer from diseases, our family members also get troubled. It affects their health and fitness as well.

The only way to have a healthy body is to ensure the proper fitness levels of our body. That is why even in schools so much of importance is given to the health and fitness levels of students. If we keep our body fit, we can enjoy life in a better manner.

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Health and Fitness Essay | Essay on Health and Fitness for Students and Children in English

February 12, 2024 by Prasanna

Health and Fitness Essay: Health is defined as a state of physical, mental, and social well being and not merely physical well being. Health and fitness go hand in hand. We have to stay healthy; we have to keep fit. We must concentrate on our fitness if we have to maintain our health. Health is wealth, and we must take care of ourselves. Being healthy does not merely refer to exercising regularly; it is a much vaster concept.

In this article, we have provided one extended essay on Health and Fitness Essay and one brief essay on Health and Fitness Essay along with ten lines on the topic to help students write these essays in their examinations.

You can read more  Essay Writing  about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.

Long and Short Essays on Health and Fitness for Students and Kids in English

We have given below a detailed essay on Health and Fitness Essay composed of 500 words and a brief article on Health and Fitness Essay comprising 100-150 words on the topic in English. Long Essay on Health and Fitness Essay is usually given to classes 7, 8, 9, and 10. Short Essay on Health and Fitness Essays is usually given to classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Long Essay on Health and Fitness 500 Words in English

Health and fitness are two things that we must take care of to lead a good life. Staying fit has a lot of advantages.

To concentrate on ways to be fit, we must understand the reasons for which fitness is required. Our lifestyle has changed by and large, and we are more accustomed to eating out. Meals cooked at home are healthier, but our work takes us to different places, and we cannot expect home-cooked meals.

To make up for our lack of eating healthy, we must take proper care of ourselves by exercising regularly. Exercise does not, however, mean that we have to spend our whole day in the gym or we have to give up eating our favorite food.

Most people go for the wrong diet in their struggle to lose weight and stay fit. Following fad diets like eating cabbage soup or onions is not helpful and causes more harm than good. Individuals often skip meals because they think eating less would help them lose weight.

However, experts have repeatedly impressed upon us the importance of eating correctly. Skipping meals leads to slow metabolism, and that leads to further weight gain. When our body does not get enough food, it starts storing whatever food is available as fat. Thus, there is no breakdown of food into energy, and we feel tired and weak.

It is vital to eat our food at proper times. Dieticians suggest us to eat small quantities of food at multiple times. This helps in proper digestion and assimilation of food. We should intake sufficient green, leafy vegetables and a lot of water. Water regulates our body processes and facilitates overall functioning.

The first step to staying fit is to follow a balanced diet. Our diet should comprise all essential nutrients, including carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, roughage, and water. Following a balanced diet ensures our fitness and protects us from diseases by building up our immunity.

We must maintain our health and fitness simultaneously. We have busy schedules, and many of us do not find time to exercise. Thus, we must find alternative ways of applying. Walking a certain distance, using stairs instead of elevators, and maintaining a proper sleep schedule are some ways of staying fit. Sleep is crucial for a healthy and productive life. An individual must sleep for an average duration of eight hours per day.

However, in contrast to conventional thought, staying fit also means we utilize our maximum capacity. Fitness is not merely physical, and it is also essential to stay emotionally fit. Mental health refers to lower stress levels and proper ventilation of emotions. Individuals who fail to express themselves suffer from a troubled spirit and repressed depression. Such conditions may lead to breakdown and panic attacks that affect our health.

Thus, fitness is vital for leading a healthy life. A fit person will have low susceptibility to diseases and will also function more productively. Therefore, we must concentrate on our health and strive to stay healthy.

Short Essay on Health and Fitness 150 Words in English

Fitness can be achieved in a lot of ways. There is no one way of staying fit, and for some people, eating healthy does the trick. For some people, vigorous exercise is the only way out.

People have different needs, and ways to stay fit varies according to their needs. We need to understand that or weight is not the only factor here. Fat people are not always unhealthy. People can be overweight and still be perfectly fit.

The best way to stay fit is to take out some time from our busy schedules and exercise. Dancing and cycling are great ways to keep fit, running, brisk walking, jogging, and skipping are also important. Staying fit ensures a healthier and functional life.

10 Lines on Health and Fitness Essay in English

• Health and fitness are related, and it is impossible to achieve one without paying heed to the other.
• Staying healthy is essential to work correctly and live productively.
• Fitness is crucial as it helps us to work without facing difficulties and increases our resistance to disease-causing germs.
• Not only does staying fit facilitates our workability, but also helps but to be happy and content.
• Health is significantly related to our diet. We must follow a balanced diet and drink enough water.
• Water is an excellent regulator. It also helps to prevent acne, pimple and works as a natural cleanser for our skin.
• Staying fit strengthens our immunity, and we can easily fight off diseases like the common cold, viral fever, and so on.
• Brisk walking, running, dancing, jogging. Skating and karate are excellent exercises for staying fit.
• It is also essential to stay mentally healthy. Having a favorable environment that helps us grow into functioning adults is very important.
• We should never ignore our health and try our best to stay fit.

FAQ’s on Health and Fitness Essay

Question 1. Why is fitness necessary?

Answer: Fitness is crucial for us to live long and healthy lives facilitated by increased immunity and resistance to diseases.

Question 2. What is health?

Answer: The World Health Organization or WHO defines health as the state of physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely physical well-being.

Question 3. What are healthy foods?

Answer: Typically, a balanced diet is a healthy meal. But, healthy foods should contain less oil and more nutrition.

Question 4. Can eating out result in weight gain?

Answer: Yes, eating a lot of junk food may result in weight gain. However, it is crucial for everyone, overweight or not, to eat healthily. Avoiding junk food is essential if we want to stay healthy.

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• School Education /

Essay on Health and Fitness for Students

• Updated on  
• Nov 18, 2023

What did you play in your sports period at school? Was it football, Cricket, Badminton, or any other sports? Maintaining good physical health requires you to take good care of your body and in most cases, your mental fitness also. From an early age, we are taught how to take care of our health and fitness. School students are often encouraged to write an essay on health and fitness, where they must come up with ideas about how to keep themselves physically and mentally fit and the benefits of a healthy life. Well, if you have not, you need not to worry. I’ve got your back. I’ll be providing you with a detailed explanation about staying fit and how you can add them to your essay on health and fitness. Stay tuned! 

Table of Contents

• 1 Essay on Health and Fitness in 100 Words
• 2 Essay on Health and Fitness in 200 Words
• 3 Essay on Health and Fitness in 300 Words

Also Read: Best Fitness Exercises for Students Studying Abroad

Essay on Health and Fitness in 100 Words

Also Read: 7 Ways on Which Good Mental Health Leads to Good Physical Health

Essay on Health and Fitness in 200 Words

‘It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.’ – Mahatma Gandhi

Essay on Health and Fitness in 300 Words

Related Articles

To write an essay on health and fitness, you are required to describe how one can achieve his or her fitness goals. The health and fitness lifestyle depends on three factors; physical exercise, balanced diet and adequate rest. To achieve a healthy and fit life, you must focus on all these aspects. Describe them in detail and provide a positive conclusion.

Regular exercise boosts cardiovascular exercises, strength training, or flexibility workouts, enhances cardiovascular health, and strengthens muscles. A balanced and nutritious diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats is necessary. Adequate and quality sleep is crucial for physical recovery, cognitive function, and emotional well-being. The release of endorphins during physical activity helps reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, promoting a positive mindset. Health and fitness are not isolated concepts but interconnected elements of a holistic lifestyle. 

When on a diet, consider these fat-free foods: Beans and legumes, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, skim milk, egg whites, and yoghurt.

For more information on such interesting topics for your school, visit our essay writing page and make sure to follow Leverage Edu .

Shiva Tyagi

With an experience of over a year, I've developed a passion for writing blogs on wide range of topics. I am mostly inspired from topics related to social and environmental fields, where you come up with a positive outcome.

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Essay On Health And Fitness – 10 Lines, Short And Long Essay For Kids

Key Points To Remember When Writing An Essay On Health And Fitness For Lower Primary Classes

10 lines on health and fitness for kids, paragraph on ‘health and fitness’ for children, essay on ‘health and fitness’ in 100 words for kids, long essay on ‘importance of health and fitness’ for children, what will your child learn from this essay.

Essay writing is essential to inculcate critical thinking among kids from a very young age. Essays help build a rich vocabulary and push students to analyse arguments in a given topic to come up with stronger positions and definitive perspectives. An essay on health and fitness in English will help your kid stay informed about everything that falls under this topic to build a strong understanding for future references. Your kids will learn new health-related words in this process, and the association with a particular essay will help them retain them for a long. An essay on health and fitness for classes 1, 2 and 3 will sharpen your kid’s memory and strengthen creativity while improving written and verbal communication skills.

While writing an essay on health and fitness, students of lower primary classes might find it helpful to remember the overall idea of the essay through short vital points. Here is a guide to writing an essay on health and fitness for kids:

• At first, let your kid gather ideas they want to write on health and fitness.
• Let your child write down the ideas to create an outline of all necessary points to be included in the paragraph.
• Help your child construct easy, short, and simple sentences from the pre-created outline.
• Motivate your kid to describe all points and not elaborate on a single idea to maintain the word count.
• Help them maintain the writing flow to cherish the essay writing process.
• Ask them to mention the importance of good health, the procedure to maintain fitness, the consequences of an unfit body, etc.

Here are a few lines on health and fitness to understand the vitality of health. This will give your kid an overall idea about writing an essay for classes 1 and 2 on health and wellness:

• Health is of utmost importance in everyone’s life.
• Health is wealth and is more important than money.
• Having good health is a synonym for being physically and mentally fit.
• We should not ignore our health, and always stay alert in case we feel uneasy.
• We should exercise regularly to stay healthy.
• We should take care of our mental health by practising meditation.
• We should replace junk food with nutritious food to stay healthy.
• It is a good idea to avoid packaged and fast food, as they don’t help us stay healthy.
• We should drink enough water every day to maintain good health.
• We can only enjoy our lives if we care for our health and stay fit.

Children can only understand the importance of staying fit and healthy if they are introduced to health benefits and encouraged to adopt healthy habits at an early age. Here we will help your child write an essay on health and fitness in 100 words:

It is right to say that health is wealth. Good health is a must to enjoy the simplicity of life. One cannot take part in all the fun things to do in life if one is not healthy. Mental health also plays a significant role in determining our state of health. We need to exercise, eat healthy food, drink a lot of water daily, meditate, and allow positive thoughts to take care of both physical and mental health. Balancing mental and physical health is essential to leading a healthy life. We should avoid factors that stress us and always eat fresh fruits and vegetables and drink lots of water to stay hydrated. Apart from these factors, taking proper rest and having 7-8 hours of sleep every night is necessary for good health.

As children grow older, they gain the capacity to write longer paragraphs in an articulate and informed manner. Here, we will guide you to write an essay for classes 1, 2 and 3 on health and fitness.

Health is indeed an essential wealth to acquire. We can earn money, live a lavish lifestyle, own properties, and build houses, and yet cannot enjoy any of them if we are deprived of health. Staying healthy physically and mentally is a huge deal as the ideal balance between both will encourage us to work hard. To ensure physical fitness, we need to exercise daily and remain active. On top of that, we should strictly avoid junk food and eat fresh fruits and vegetables daily to maintain fitness. We must also drink the right amount of water, which is essential in order to maintain good health. All of these habits boost our immunity and make us physically fit. 7-8 hours of sleep every night is beneficial for health. Taking good care of our bodies and minds will help us build a pleasant future.

This long essay for class 3 on the importance of health and fitness will give your kids a broad perspective on this topic. They will be able to craft a detailed essay on the topic of health and fitness.

Why Are Health And Fitness So Important?

“Health is wealth” is a famous proverb that should be regarded as life’s mantra. There cannot be anything more precious than health. You cannot enjoy your money, property, or job without proper health. Good health helps in motivating us to work hard and achieve our goals.

Factors That Affect Our Health And Fitness

Staying healthy refers to being both mentally and physically fit. Having oily, unhealthy junk food and drinking inadequate water can seriously affect our health. Moreover, we might face serious health issues if we do not participate in physical activity such as exercise and yoga. Furthermore, we can lose out on immunity without proper intake of fresh fruits and vegetables and due to uncontrolled indulgence in fast foods. An improper sleep cycle can also cause havoc on our health, and sleeping less than 8 hours can affect our mental and physical well-being. Positive thinking is another crucial factor in keeping yourself mentally healthy. The mind is our source of motivation, and drives us to be physically fit too. Surrounding ourselves with negativity will hamper our whole outlook on life and steer us in the wrong direction. So, give your mind the food of positive and happy thoughts to be the master of your game.

How Can You Stay Healthy And Fit?

Consider the following tips in order to stay healthy:

• Balanced Diet – One must take various constituents of food in a proportionate quantity containing an appropriate ratio of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats ideal for the individual.
• Active Lifestyle – School children should walk more instead of being driven to a destination within walking distance. Use stairs more often instead of elevators. Indulge in outdoor games than watching TV or scrolling through social media, and lead an active lifestyle.
• Yoga And Exercises – Stress and tension can lead to gaining weight. Therefore calorie-burning exercises, yoga, running, etc., can be beneficial to stay fit.
• Meditation – Meditation helps to calm your mind down and focus on yourself. This mental exercise can help drive away stress and anxiety, keep your mind fresh, and positively impact your well-being.
• Avoid Fatty Foods – Fats tend to accumulate in the body and impact the inner functionality of our system. Therefore, consuming the right amount of fatty food is necessary to control obesity and have a healthy lifestyle.

This composition will help your child realise the value of staying fit and healthy. They will understand the practices to be followed even after growing up.

Without health, nothing can be accomplished, and no accomplishment can be enjoyed. So, make sure to eat healthy food, and feel healthy for a wonderful life.

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English that goes straight to the heart

Health and Fitness Essay

An essay is a piece of writing that revolves around a particular theme and contains the academic opinions of the person writing it. A basic essay mainly consists of three parts: Introduction, Body, and Conclusion.

Regular exercise helps us to keep fit and healthy. ‘Health and Fitness Essay’ will tell you everything you want to know about health and fitness.

Health and Fitness Essay (950+ Words)

With his superior intellect, man has been able to control nature, making him the dominant species. However, it is essential for man to maintain a healthy body and mind, as a healthy individual is deemed wealthy. Engaging in regular exercise not only keeps the body fit but also keeps the mind alert. The soundness of one’s health is reflected in their mental state and emotions, as a weak and unfit body can adversely affect one’s psychological well-being.

Recent studies suggest that the increased stress of modern-day living is leading to a range of medical conditions, predominantly heart and neurological problems. Maintaining good health and fitness is crucial in cultivating a positive outlook towards work and life in general.

Life is meant to be positive and joyful, despite the challenges we may encounter. To enjoy the marvels of life, we require energy and vitality, which is only achievable through a healthy and fit body that can overcome life’s obstacles.

The care for good health starts during childhood, and it depends on how a feeding mother maintains her health and fitness. She should consume a balanced diet with the necessary nutrients and live in a hygienic environment. These are the primary requirements for both the mother and baby. Various children suffer from dreaded illnesses such as polio, diphtheria, and typhoid, making disease prevention crucial to keep children healthy.

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Parents love their children and want them to grow physically and mentally well. They dream of having healthy, intelligent, and bright children. However, taking care of children is not just the parents’ responsibility. As children are the future of the country, everyone shares the responsibility of ensuring their good health and fitness.

A healthy child grows up to be a healthy and fit man. The growth and development of a child are crucial in shaping their future. A well-rounded development during childhood can lead to a productive resource for the country, benefiting society and humanity. It is essential for others to extend their services to help children maintain their good health and fitness.

Various individuals such as educators, neighbors, companions, athletes, teachers or masters in physical and mental training, media, social workers, doctors, and gymnasts can play a vital role in motivating children towards good health and fitness.

While schools provide children with an opportunity to develop their physical and mental abilities, good health holds more significance in this competitive era where modern demands must be met. Life has become fast-paced and stressful from an early age, and the educational syllabus is extensive, expectations are high, and competitions are becoming more challenging.

Given these conditions, it is crucial for students to study hard and spend long hours in the classroom. Educational institutions must prioritize physical exercise and recreational programs to promote good health and fitness among students. This is the primary means by which students can learn effectively while maintaining their well-being.

A school or educational institution that provides students with adequate facilities for sports and other activities that offer physical exercise and entertainment is considered excellent. After spending long hours studying and working mentally, students require outdoor activities to relieve their mental stress and weaknesses.

Irrespective of the career path chosen, every individual with a good academic record and sound health strives to achieve their goals in life. Good education and good health and fitness are crucial for individuals to face challenges confidently and achieve success.

A closer look reveals that individuals with good health and fitness perform better in their personal and professional lives. Both physical and mental health are equally essential for better performance and outcomes. It is essential for everyone to prioritize their health to become a result-oriented individual.

Even an untalented individual can succeed in their occupation through good health and fitness. We often observe individuals with good physiques working on farms all day, putting in their energy to earn a living for themselves and their families. This gives them mental satisfaction and a restful night’s sleep. Additionally, physically and mentally strong individuals can provide better support to society and receive appreciation from others.

There are various professions that require good health and fitness as a primary eligibility criteria. Individuals who are physically fit and mentally strong tend to excel in the armed forces, paramilitary , police, and other similar forces. We have witnessed numerous decorated members of these forces who have shown extraordinary performance and heroism while fighting the enemy or exhibiting bravery in incredibly challenging circumstances.

Having good health and fitness can open up numerous job opportunities for an individual, as even the private sector values a well-built appearance. Health is highly valued in all aspects of life and can benefit an individual greatly throughout their lifetime.

A person’s mental state can greatly impact their physical appearance. Negative thoughts and emotions can reflect in a person’s appearance, whereas a healthy mind can bring a positive glow. The connection between the mind and body is so strong that one can affect the other, and if not properly controlled, can create a cycle of negative reactions.

The lack of healthcare facilities in many areas has resulted in people suffering from diseases and injuries without proper medical attention. Poor individuals cannot afford treatment in big cities, and private hospitals charge exorbitant fees for major diseases. Relying solely on medical facilities is not enough to solve this issue; people need to be aware of the importance of regular physical exercise to maintain good health and efficiency. Joining Gymnasiums and Yoga camps can promote awareness and inspire others to follow good health practices.

By freeing oneself of unhealthy and negative thoughts, a person can motivate themselves to improve their body and avoid most psychological illnesses. When on the path to good health and fitness, a person can achieve a superior mind.

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• Healthy Lifestyle Essay

Essay on Healthy Lifestyle

The top secret of being physically fit is adopting a healthy lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle includes regular exercise, a healthy diet, taking good care of self, healthy sleep habits, and having a physically active daily routine. Lifestyle is the most prevailing factor that affects one’s fitness level. A person leading a sedentary lifestyle has a low fitness level whereas living a healthier life not only makes a person fit but also extends life. Good health has a direct impact on our personality. A person with a good and healthy lifestyle is generally more confident, self-assured, sociable, and energetic.

A good and healthy lifestyle allows one to relish and savor all the pleasures in life without any complications. Even all the wealth is less valuable when compared to sound health. Having all the luxuries in the world does not fulfill its purpose when one is continuously ill, depressed, or suffering from a significant health complication. A healthy person has a clear and calm perception of everything without prejudice. His actions and decisions are more practical and logical and are hence more successful in life.

A good habit is a key factor for a healthy lifestyle. To maintain a stable body and mind, one needs to inculcate good habits. Waking up early in the morning, regularly exercising or a good morning walk helps to keep our body energetic and refresh our mind. Maintaining a balanced and nutritious diet throughout the day is vital for maintaining a good lifestyle. Too much indulgence in alcohol or smoking excessively is not at all appropriate for a healthy lifestyle.

Self-Discipline

Self-discipline is important for maintaining a good lifestyle. When we are self-disciplined then we are more organized and regular in maintaining good health. A disciplined life is a regulated life. A man without discipline is a ship without a rudder. Discipline needs self-control. One who cannot control himself can seldom control others. The level of discipline and perseverance largely determines a person’s success. Self-discipline is the act of disciplining one’s own feelings, desires, etc. especially with the intention of improving oneself. It strengthens our willpower. The stronger our will power the positive will be our decision. It enables us to conquer our own self.

Punctuality

Punctuality is the habit of doing things on time. It is the characteristic of every successful person and everyone must observe punctuality in order to win success in life. Punctuality is necessary for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It should become a habit with us. A punctual person is able to fulfill all his responsibilities and hence is treated with respect in society. It is needed in every walk of life.

Diet is an important component for overall fitness and works best in combination with exercise. A balanced diet and exercise regularly help to maintain good health. It is necessary to reduce weight if one is overweight or obese, failing which one cannot be physically fit for long. For people with obesity, more exercise and a strict regime are necessary, preferably under guidance. There are many ways of making the diet healthier.

Use less sugar and salt while cooking food.

Use less oil while cooking. Avoid deep-frying as much as possible. 

Eat more fruits daily. They provide more vitamins and minerals to our bodies.

Add sprouts of gram and moong dal to at least one meal in a day. Add fiber to your diet. Use whole grains instead of polished cereals. Eat lots of salad and yogurt.

Eat fermented food regularly. Fermented food contains many useful bacteria that help in the process of digestion.

Prevention of Lifestyle Diseases

By adopting a healthy lifestyle one can avoid lifestyle diseases. The following are some ways in which we can prevent lifestyle diseases.

Eat a balanced diet that contains important nutrients. One must include more fresh fruits and green vegetables in the diet. Refrain from eating junk food. Stay away from foods that contain large amounts of salt or sugar.

Exercise regularly. Spend more time outdoors and do activities such as walking, running, swimming, and cycling.

One must avoid overindulgence in alcohol, junk food, smoking, and addiction to drugs and medicines.

Avoid spending too much on modern gadgets like mobile phones, laptops, televisions, etc. Spend time on these gadgets for short intervals of time only.

Set a healthy sleeping routine for every day. Waking early in the morning and going to bed early at night should be a daily habit. Lead an active life.

Unhealthy Lifestyle

Bad food habits and an unhealthy lifestyle such as less or no physical activity may lead to several diseases like obesity, high blood pressure or hypertension, diabetes, anemia, and various heart diseases. An unhealthy lifestyle reduces productivity and creativity in a person. It also adversely affects moods and relationships. It leads to depression and anxiety in human beings.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle not only makes a person confident and productive but also drives him to success. A person with a healthy lifestyle will enjoy both personal and social life.

FAQs on Healthy Lifestyle Essay

What Do You Understand about a Healthy Lifestyle?

A healthy lifestyle is a lifestyle that includes regular exercise, a healthy diet, taking good care of self, healthy sleep habits and having a physically active daily routine.

How is Punctuality Important for Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle?

Punctuality is the habit of doing things on time. It is the characteristic of every successful person and everyone must observe punctuality in order to win success in life. It should become a habit with us. A punctual person is able to fulfil all his responsibilities and hence is treated with respect in society. It is needed in every walk of life.

What Happens When One Does Not Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle?

When one does not maintain a healthy lifestyle then several diseases like obesity, high blood pressure or hypertension, diabetes, anaemia and various heart diseases can occur. An unhealthy lifestyle reduces productivity and creativity in a person. It also adversely affects moods and relationships. It leads to depression and anxiety in human beings.

What are the Main Factors that Determine a Good and Healthy Lifestyle?

In order to maintain a good and healthy lifestyle, one must be self-disciplined, self-motivated, maintain punctuality and have good habits like waking early in the morning and maintain a regular fitness regime and a balanced and nutritious diet.

Is writing an essay hard?

Essay writing is a difficult task that needs a great deal of study, time, and focus. It's also an assignment that you can divide down into manageable chunks such as introduction, main content, and conclusion. Breaking down and focusing on each individually makes essay writing more pleasant. It's natural for students to be concerned about writing an essay. It's one of the most difficult tasks to do, especially for people who aren't confident in their writing abilities. While writing a decent essay is difficult, the secret to being proficient at it is reading a lot of books, conducting extensive research on essential topics, and practicing essay writing diligently.

Why is it important for one to aspire to have a healthy lifestyle?

A healthy lifestyle is an important way for reducing the occurrence and impact of health problems, as well as for recovery, coping with life stressors, and improving the overall quality of life. An increasing collection of scientific data suggests that our habits have a significant impact on our health. Everything we eat and drink, as well as how much exercise we get and whether we smoke or use drugs, has an impact on our health, not just in terms of life expectancy but also in terms of how long we may expect to live without developing chronic illness. A large proportion of fatalities are caused by conditions such as heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, joint disease, and mental illness. A healthy lifestyle can help to avoid or at least delay the onset of many health issues.

How to download the Essay on Healthy Lifestyle from the Vedantu website?

The Essay on Healthy Lifestyle, which is accurate and well-structured, is available for download on the Vedantu website. The Essay is accessible in PDF format on Vedantu's official website and may be downloaded for free. Students should download the Essay on Healthy Lifestyle from the Vedantu website to obtain a sense of the word limit, sentence structure, and fundamental grasp of what makes a successful essay. Vedantu essay is brief and appropriate for youngsters in school. It is written in basic English, which is ideal for kids who have a restricted vocabulary. Following the Vedantu essay ensures that students are adequately prepared for any essay subject and that they will receive high grades. Click here to read the essay about a healthy lifestyle.

Who prepares the Essay for Vedantu?

The Essay on Healthy Lifestyle designed for the Vedantu is created by a group of experts and experienced teachers. The panel of experts has created the essay after analyzing important essay topics that have been repeatedly asked in various examinations. The Essays that are provided by Vedantu are not only well-structured but also accurate and concise. They are aptly suited for young students with limited vocabulary. For best results, the students are advised to go through multiple essays and practice the topics on their own to inculcate the habits of time management and speed.

What constitutes a healthy lifestyle?

Healthy life is built on the pillars of a good diet, frequent exercise, and appropriate sleep. A healthy lifestyle keeps people in excellent shape, it also gives you more energy throughout the day, and lowers your chance of developing many diet-related chronic diseases. Healthy living is considered a lifestyle choice that allows you to enjoy more elements of your life. Taking care of one's physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being is part of living a healthy lifestyle.

Good Nutrition, Eating Right and proper diet.

Getting Physically Fit, Beneficial Exercise and working out often.

Adequate rest and uninterrupted sleep.

Proper Stress Management.

Self-Supportive Attitudes.

Positive Thoughts are encouraged.

Positive Self-Image and body image.

Inner Calmness and peace.

Openness to Your Creativity and Self-care.

Trust in Your Inner Knowing and your gut feeling.

Essay on Health and Fitness for Children and Students

Table of Contents

The maintenance of health and fitness helps a person to be in the general state of health and well-being. It provides ability to perform physical actions without being tired or restless. However, the maintenance of health and fitness requires regular physical exercise with balanced diet.

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It is very necessary for all to maintain their health and fitness in order to be fit, healthy, fearless of diseases, and get so many other benefits. Now-a-days, teachers generally assign their students to write some paragraphs or full essay on any topic to enhance their English writing skill and knowledge as well as spread awareness.

Following are some paragraphs, short essays and long essays on health and fitness to help students in completing their task. All the health and fitness essay are written very simply. So, you can select any essay according to your need and requirement:

Long and Short Essay on Health and Fitness in English

Health and fitness essay 100 words – sample 1.

A person with good health and fitness becomes able to live his/her life to its fullest extent. It is very important for a person in life to be physically and mentally fit to live a healthy and happy life. Healthy and fit people become less prone to the medical conditions.

Fitness does not mean to be physically fit only, it also means with healthy mental state of the person. One can get healthy mental state if he/she becomes physically fit. The simple way to remain healthy and fit is having stress free mind with regular exercise and balanced diet. People who maintain their ideal weight become less prone to the cardiac and other health problems. People who are physically active can easily maintain a relaxed state of mind. Healthy and fit people can easily face all the ups and downs of their life and less affected by any drastic change.

Health and Fitness Essay 150 words – Sample 2

People are being more conscious towards their health and fitness as time changes. Male wants to have a muscle bound body whereas female a slim and trim look. Everybody is doing lots of struggle on daily basis to achieve a perfect body. Getting healthy and fit body and mind requires lots of patience, time, commitment, goal, believe, and a strong mind to face all the struggles. Some people have ability to maintain fitness on their own however some need a good qualified personal trainer to take care of the daily exercises and diet. People who are in corporate businesses have very little movement and lot of sitting all through the day. That’s why they face being overweight, obese, lazy, and tired. It is proved with studies that people who are more fit and healthy achieve greater success in life.

Health and Fitness Essay 200 words – Sample 3

Health is a very important aspect in the life of everyone. Nothing is more important than health and fitness for any human being. Healthy and fit people really enjoy their life very happily and peacefully. An unhealthy person cannot enjoy life in full extent.

He/she cannot enjoy eating, watching sports, or other luxury of the life. It is truly said by our elders that health is wealth. In order to maintain good health we need to properly take care of the hygiene and sanitation all around us. We have to eat healthy and complete food in timely manner.

We should eat green and fresh vegetables, milk, fresh fruits, egg, etc. Our body need sufficient amount of proteins, minerals and vitamins on daily basis to be fit and healthy. Together with the healthy food and physical activities we need to maintain cleanliness in our home and surrounding areas including our personal cleanliness.

The maintenance of physical and mental fitness is very important for a person needed to be successful and do best to the society. It is truly said by the Buddha about health and fitness that, “To keep the body in good health is a duty, otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear”.

Health and Fitness Essay 250 words – Sample 4

Most of the common people never realize the importance of being healthy and fit. They generally underestimate the importance of good health as they never know the advantages of it. We all know that health is wealth but only few people follow it in their life. Being healthy and fit, helps us in carrying out our daily tasks. Being healthy is not only a body free of diseases, but it also means to have a tensionless mind. If a person has unhealthy mind, he cannot has an unhealthy body.

Good health of both, body and mind helps us to get success in life and enjoy it in full extent. Good mental health makes us feel like a well-being and healthy body gives us physical strength and confidence. Good physical health helps us in our trouble times whereas poor physical becomes more weak and prone to diseases.

We need to be aware about all the points of how to keep us healthy both physically and mentally. Some people know well about how to keep their body neat, clean and healthy however they carry some tensions in their mind, so they always lack of being fit. Mental tension gradually deteriorates the good condition of body and makes it weak. People, who are serious about their health and fitness, do exercises on daily basis and eat healthy food in timely manner. They are much conscious about their health and avoid being lazy, eating unhealthy food and sedentary life.

Health and Fitness Essay 300 words- Sample 5

Now-a-days, people have been so busy in their hectic life style and do not have time to keep themselves healthy or stay fit. It is the fact that we must eat healthy, practice cleanliness and involve in daily physical exercises in order to remain healthy and fit. As we know that there is no alternate to the hard work, in the same way there is no alternate to the health and fitness. Health and fitness is the combination of healthy living with healthy lifestyle. Psychological health is very necessary with the physical health of a person in order to be healthy and fit. We need to eat healthy food and do physical exercises on daily basis in order to remain physically healthy however we need to think positive to remain mentally healthy.

We need to get self motivated as well as take part in the fitness-style activities. We should take our fitness as the matter of every-day routine. Being fit should be our first aim of living a healthy lifestyle. It doesn’t require exercising for hours, just a small amount of exercise and healthy food on daily basis is enough to maintain the health and fitness.

We should keep our eyes always open and select stairs instead of the elevator, use cycle instead of car or bike for nearby areas, walk to the next bus stop, etc creates really a big difference. Being involved in daily physical exercises not only keep us fit but also improve our lifestyle and healthy living. It increases our energy level and thus confidence level.

We should enjoy spending hours on morning walk, running, working out at the gym or other physical activities to keep body functioning well as well as improve muscle endurance. We should eat fresh cooked food instead of stale food in order to remain away from the digestive disorders.

Health and Fitness Essay 400 words- Sample 6

Introduction

Health and fitness is the state of being healthy both, physically and mentally. Regular exercises and balanced diet can improve health and fitness of a person. We can define health as the state of complete mental, physical and social well-being of a person. It is not only the absence of illness, diseases or infirmity. We can define the fitness of any person as the ability to meet demands of the environment.

How to Maintain Health and Fitness

There are various ways we can keep us healthy and fit if we follow regularly the following:

• We should regularly involve in the daily physical exercises by getting some time from our much hectic schedule. 30 to 60 minutes of exercise on daily basis or five to six times a week is ideal for anybody to remain fit.
• Healthy and clean food in right amount and at right time is very necessary for a person to stay healthy and fit. Healthy nutrition with high-fiber, low-fat, high protein, and rich source of vitamins and minerals is the key to good health.
• In order to get fit and healthy, good sleeping pattern is very necessary for any person. We need to maintain a discipline in our daily routine and focus on good sleeping pattern which must start and end at right time. Taking quality sleep of eight hours each night boosts our immune system and helps in preventing cardiovascular diseases as well as improves mood. Inadequate sleeping pattern leads to the sleep disorders and various mental disorders.

Importance of Health and Fitness

Health and fitness is very important for people who want to live a healthy life very happily and peacefully. A healthy and fit person is only capable to live life to its fullest extent. We can say a person healthy and fit if he/she is physically and mentally fit. Physically and mentally fit people become less prone to the medical conditions. Health and fitness of any person helps in:

• Decreases the risk of diseases (high blood pressure, diabetes, coronary heart diseases, colon cancer, osteoporosis, obesity, stroke, breast cancer, etc).
• Make them feel better both, physically and mentally.
• Improves their confidence level.
• Heals injuries soon.
• Helps to live longer by adding years to the life.
• Reduces stress and improves quality of life.
• Reduces anxiety level, stress, and feelings of depression.

Conclusion : Regular physical activities and routine exercise is very necessary for the people of all age group especially younger generations. Health and fitness brings happiness in the life and helps a person to live stress free and disease free life.

Helpful Resources on Health and Fitness

FAQs on Health and Fitness

What is health and fitness.

Health and fitness refer to physical well-being and the ability to perform daily activities with vigor. It encompasses a balanced diet, regular exercise, and mental stability.

What are health and fitness benefits?

Benefits include reduced risk of chronic diseases, enhanced mood and mental health, and improved longevity and quality of life.

How do you maintain good health and fitness?

Maintain a balanced diet, engage in regular physical activity, manage stress, and have regular health check-ups.

What are the 4 types of fitness?

The four types are cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, and muscular endurance.

What is health and fitness for life?

It means adopting lifelong habits that promote overall well-being and physical resilience, ensuring a better quality of life.

How is health and fitness important?

Health and fitness enhance mental and physical performance, reduce health risks, and improve overall well-being and life satisfaction.

What is the short note on health and fitness?

Health and fitness are vital for a high-quality life, reducing disease risks, and ensuring physical and mental well-being.

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Essay on Physical Health

Students are often asked to write an essay on Physical Health in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Physical Health

What is physical health.

Physical health means your body is working well. It’s when you are not sick and can do your daily activities without trouble. Eating good food, exercising, sleeping enough, and seeing a doctor regularly help keep you healthy.

Importance of Exercise

Moving your body makes you stronger and helps you feel good. When you play sports, run, or do yoga, you help your heart, muscles, and bones. Exercise also makes you happier and helps you sleep better.

Eating Healthy

Your body needs good food to work properly. Fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy give you energy and keep you well. Drinking water is also important. Try to eat less junk food.

Rest and Sleep

Sleeping enough is very important for health. When you sleep, your body fixes itself and gets ready for the next day. Kids should sleep for 9-12 hours every night.

Regular Check-ups

250 words essay on physical health.

Physical health means having a body that works well and feels good. It’s not just about not being sick; it’s also about being strong, flexible, and full of energy. A body in good shape can play, learn, and do all sorts of activities without getting tired too quickly.

Eating Right

Eating healthy food is key to good health. Your body is like a machine that needs the right fuel to run smoothly. This means eating lots of fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins. Drinking plenty of water is also important. Sweet snacks and fast food might taste good, but they don’t give your body what it needs to stay healthy.

Being Active

Exercise is another big part of staying healthy. When you move your body, you make your muscles stronger and help your bones grow. Activities like running, jumping rope, or playing sports are great for keeping your heart healthy. Even walking or riding a bike to school can help.

Your body needs to rest after working hard all day. Getting enough sleep every night helps your body repair itself and get ready for the next day. A well-rested body can fight off germs better and keep you from getting sick.

Staying Clean

Keeping clean is also part of being healthy. Washing your hands, taking showers, and brushing your teeth stop germs from making you sick. Good hygiene helps you stay fit and active.

500 Words Essay on Physical Health

Physical health is about how well our bodies work. It’s like when you have a toy that needs batteries to move. If the batteries are good, the toy moves well. Our bodies are like that toy, and we need to take care of them to stay active and strong. Eating good food, exercising, sleeping enough, and going to the doctor are some ways to keep our bodies in good shape.

Imagine your body is a car. Just like a car needs fuel to run, your body needs food to work. But not just any food – it needs healthy food. Fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy give you energy and help you grow. Eating too much candy or fast food is like putting the wrong fuel in a car. It can make your body run poorly and you might feel tired or sick.

Staying Active

Getting enough sleep.

Sleep is like a charger for your body. When you sleep, your body fixes any damage and gets ready for the next day. Kids need a lot of sleep because they’re growing. If you don’t sleep enough, you might have trouble thinking, learning, and playing. Most kids need about 9-12 hours of sleep every night.

Seeing the Doctor

Doctors are like body mechanics. They check to make sure everything is working right and fix any problems. Going to the doctor even when you feel fine is important. They can give you shots to stop you from getting sick and help you stay healthy.

Safety is also a part of physical health. Wearing helmets when riding bikes, seatbelts in cars, and sunscreen outside helps prevent injuries. It’s like being careful with your toy so it doesn’t break.

Feeling Good

When your body is healthy, you usually feel good. You can play with friends, learn new things, and enjoy life. Sometimes, you might get sick or hurt, but taking care of your body helps you get better faster.

In summary, physical health is taking care of your body so it can work its best. Eating healthy foods, playing and exercising, sleeping well, going to the doctor, staying clean, and being safe are all important. When you take good care of your body, you feel good and can have lots of fun. Remember, your body is like a favorite toy – you need to take care of it so it can last a long time.

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Physical Exercises and Their Health Benefits Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Exercises that include physical activities are very essential to both body and mental health of human beings. In fact this is one of the areas where many studies have been conducted by scholars from different parts of the world to show that exercise is essential to all people regardless of their age, sex and occupation. Healthcare givers also recommend that patients with chronic sicknesses should do some workouts to facilitate their healing. According to the recent studies on the importance of exercise to human beings, it is evident that people have begun to realize the need for doing exercise. In fact people from different parts of the world participate in various exercises and other physical activity in order to keep fit and remain healthy. This paper highlights some of the major importance of workouts to our bodies and why people should do exercises.

One of the major benefits of exercise is that it helps in maintaining a healthy body weight. Cases of people being overweight are common in the modern society due to people shying away from physical activities and desire for junk food. Change of lifestyles has made many people to be overweight and this comes with health complications. Participating in physical activity burns calories and this promotes weight loss. Exercises also help in maintaining weight loss among those working on how to lose some of their body weight.

Exercise makes an individual stronger and boosts the body energy. Some people are very weak to an extent that they are heavily fatigued by simple duties such as doing shopping or doing basic domestic chores. Regular exercise improves bone and muscle strength and give gives the body endurance to tiring activities. When you participate in regular workouts, oxygen and other necessary nutrients are delivered to the lungs, heart and other vital body organs to ensure that they are functioning well. Consequently, a person is able to do simple routine tasks without getting easily exhausted.

Exercise also improves moods and looks. Studies show that people who do not participate in any physical activities and workouts are mostly in bad moods and gloomy. Ordinarily, people get involved in some activities that may lower their moods and exercise helps in improving moods and maintain the charming appearance. Simple workouts stimulate the brain to release some chemicals that make an individual feel happy and relaxed. This also improves the facial looks therefore raising self-esteem and confidence. For those who want to keep fit and maintain certain body looks such as models, sports people and celebrities, exercise helps in achieving the desired physical body appearances.

Exercise is also believed to promote good sleeping habits. Sometimes it becomes difficult to fall asleep or to remain asleep especially after a busy day. Regular exercise can help in promoting better sleep and ensure that it is a continuous one. To the married people, sex life is important and cannot be taken for granted. However, this has become a major challenge to the modern couples because many people retire to their beds feeling too tired to participate in physical intimacy. Exercise makes helps in maintaining a positive sex life and it promotes arousal for both women and men. Studies show that regular physical activity helps men to overcome erectile dysfunction making sex life more enjoyable.

Exercise is also paramount for maintaining better health. Regular workouts improve the immune system and this reduces the chances of getting sick. However, it is worth noting that over exercising can destroy the body immune system. Additionally, regular exercise reduces stress thereby contributing to a healthy living. Regular workouts take the body and mind from the stressing activities and this relieves the body the weight of the stress. The energy used in handling stress is therefore used for other productive processes of the body. Some people suffer from poor digestion and metabolism especially the elderly ones. Exercise helps in ensuring that digestion and absorption of food in the body take place as well. Workouts also increase the rate of metabolisms and the end result is good health. For those doing trainings such as weight lifting and muscle builders, workouts promotes muscle buildup and helps in changing the body shape to the desired body shape. Regular exercise also improves the body stamina and enhances flexibility and stability. Workouts stretch the body and ensure a good posture. This is vital for body stability and it also prevents early body aging. It also reduces the chances of getting easily injured when doing routine duties.

Generally, it is evident that exercise is good for both our mental and body health. It is also worth noting that exercise is enjoyable and can be used to bring people close to their friends. Physical activity is fun and it gives people an opportunity to participate in things that make them happy. Participating in a dance class or soccer club is very enjoyable and makes you to feel relaxed. However it is important for the people with special health conditions to ensure that they have consulted their healthcare for advice on the best workouts to avoid more harm to their body.

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• Open access
• Published: 09 September 2024

Exploring the impact of housing insecurity on the health and wellbeing of children and young people in the United Kingdom: a qualitative systematic review

• Emma S. Hock 1 ,
• Lindsay Blank 1 ,
• Hannah Fairbrother 1 ,
• Mark Clowes 1 ,
• Diana Castelblanco Cuevas 1 ,
• Andrew Booth 1 ,
• Amy Clair 2 &
• Elizabeth Goyder 1  

BMC Public Health volume  24 , Article number:  2453 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

Metrics details

Housing insecurity can be understood as experiencing or being at risk of multiple house moves that are not through choice and related to poverty. Many aspects of housing have all been shown to impact children/young people’s health and wellbeing. However, the pathways linking housing and childhood health and wellbeing are complex and poorly understood.

We undertook a systematic review synthesising qualitative data on the perspectives of children/young people and those close to them, from the United Kingdom (UK). We searched databases, reference lists, and UK grey literature. We extracted and tabulated key data from the included papers, and appraised study quality. We used best fit framework synthesis combined with thematic synthesis, and generated diagrams to illustrate hypothesised causal pathways.

We included 59 studies and identified four populations: those experiencing housing insecurity in general (40 papers); associated with domestic violence (nine papers); associated with migration status (13 papers); and due to demolition-related forced relocation (two papers). Housing insecurity took many forms and resulted from several interrelated situations, including eviction or a forced move, temporary accommodation, exposure to problematic behaviour, overcrowded/poor-condition/unsuitable property, and making multiple moves. Impacts included school-related, psychological, financial and family wellbeing impacts, daily long-distance travel, and poor living conditions, all of which could further exacerbate housing insecurity. People perceived that these experiences led to mental and physical health problems, tiredness and delayed development. The impact of housing insecurity was lessened by friendship and support, staying at the same school, having hope for the future, and parenting practices. The negative impacts of housing insecurity on child/adolescent health and wellbeing may be compounded by specific life circumstances, such as escaping domestic violence, migration status, or demolition-related relocation.

Housing insecurity has a profound impact on children and young people. Policies should focus on reducing housing insecurity among families, particularly in relation to reducing eviction; improving, and reducing the need for, temporary accommodation; minimum requirements for property condition; and support to reduce multiple and long-distance moves. Those working with children/young people and families experiencing housing insecurity should prioritise giving them optimal choice and control over situations that affect them.

Peer Review reports

Introduction

The impacts of socioeconomic position in childhood on adult health outcomes and mortality are well documented in quantitative analyses (e.g., [ 1 ]). Housing is a key mechanism through which social and structural inequalities can impact health [ 2 ]. The impact of housing conditions on child health are well established [ 3 ]. Examining the wellbeing of children and young people within public health overall is of utmost importance [ 4 ]. Children and young people (and their families) who are homeless are a vulnerable group with particular difficulty in accessing health care and other services, and as such, meeting their needs should be a priority [ 5 ].

An extensive and diverse evidence base captures relationships between housing and health, including both physical and mental health outcomes. Much of the evidence relates to the quality of housing and specific aspects of poor housing including cold and damp homes, poorly maintained housing stock or inadequate housing leading to overcrowded accommodation [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. The health impacts of housing insecurity, together with the particular vulnerability of children and young people to the effects of not having a secure and stable home environment, continue to present a cause for increased concern [ 7 , 8 , 11 , 14 ]. The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Public Health Reviews (PHR) Programme commissioned the current review in response to concerns about rising levels of housing insecurity and the impact of housing insecurity on the health and wellbeing of children and young people in the United Kingdom (UK).

Terminology and definitions related to housing insecurity

Numerous diverse terms are available to define housing insecurity, with no standard definition or validated instrument. For the purpose of our review, we use the terminology and definitions used by the Children’s Society, which are comprehensive and based directly on research with children that explores the relationship between housing and wellbeing [ 15 ]. They use the term “housing insecurity” for those experiencing and at risk of multiple moves that are (i) not through choice and (ii) related to poverty [ 15 ]. This reflects their observation that multiple moves may be a positive experience if they are by choice and for positive reasons (e.g., employment opportunities; moves to better housing or areas with better amenities). This definition also acknowledges that the wider health and wellbeing impacts of housing insecurity may be experienced by families that may not have experienced frequent moves but for whom a forced move is a very real possibility. The Children’s Society definition of housing insecurity encompasses various elements (see Table  1 ).

Housing insecurity in the UK today – the extent of the problem

Recent policy and research reports from multiple organisations in the UK highlight a rise in housing insecurity among families with children [ 19 , 22 , 23 ]. Housing insecurity has grown following current trends in the cost and availability of housing, reflecting in particular the rapid increase in the number of low-income families with children in the private rental sector [ 19 , 22 , 24 ], where housing tenures are typically less secure. The ending of a tenancy in the private rental sector was the main cause of homelessness given in 15,500 (27% of claims) of applications for homelessness assistance in 2017/18, up from 6,630 (15% of claims) in 2010/11 for example [ 25 ]. The increased reliance on the private rented sector for housing is partly due to a lack of social housing and unaffordability of home ownership [ 23 ]. The nature of tenure in the private rental sector and gap between available benefits and housing costs means even low-income families that have not experienced frequent moves may experience the negative impacts of being at persistent risk of having to move [ 26 ]. Beyond housing benefit changes, other changes to the social security system have been linked with increased housing insecurity. The roll-out of Universal Credit Footnote 1 , with its built-in waits for payments, has been linked with increased rent arrears [ 27 , 28 ]. The introduction of the benefit cap, which limits the amount of social security payments a household can receive, disproportionately affects housing support and particularly affecting lone parents [ 29 , 30 , 31 ].

The increase in families experiencing housing insecurity, including those living with relatives or friends (the ‘hidden homeless’) and those in temporary accommodation provided by local authorities, are a related consequence of the lack of suitable or affordable rental properties, which is particularly acute for lone parents and larger families. The numbers of children and young people entering the social care system or being referred to social services because of family housing insecurity contributes further evidence on the scale and severity of the problem [ 32 ].

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated housing insecurity in the UK [ 24 ], with the impacts continuing to be felt. In particular, the pandemic increased financial pressures on families (due to loss of income and increased costs for families with children/young people at home). These financial pressures were compounded by a reduction in informal temporary accommodation being offered by friends and family due to social isolation precautions [ 24 ]. Further, the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the risks to health posed by poor housing quality (including overcrowding) and housing insecurity [ 24 , 33 ]. Recent research with young people in underserved communities across the country also highlighted their experience of the uneven impact of COVID-19 for people in contrasting housing situations [ 34 ].

While the temporary ban on bailiff-enforced evictions, initiated due to the pandemic, went some way towards acknowledging the pandemic’s impact on housing insecurity, housing organisations are lobbying for more long-term strategies to support people with pandemic-induced debt and rent-arrears [ 33 ]. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has warned of the very real risk of a ‘two-tier recovery’ from the pandemic, highlighting the ‘disproportionate risks facing people who rent their homes’ ([ 35 ], para. 1). Their recent large-scale survey found that one million renting households worry about being evicted in the next three months, and half of these were families with children [ 35 ]. The survey also found that households with children, renters from ethnic minority backgrounds and households on low incomes are disproportionately affected by pandemic-induced debt and rent arrears [ 35 ].

The cost-of-living crisis is exacerbating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, with many households experiencing or set to experience housing insecurity due to relative reductions in income accompanying increases in rent and mortgage repayments [ 36 ]. People experiencing or at risk of housing insecurity are disproportionately affected, due to higher food and utility costs [ 37 ].

Research evidence on relationships between housing in childhood and health

Housing is a key social determinant of health, and a substantive evidence base of longitudinal cohort studies and intervention studies supports a causal relationship between the quality, affordability and stability of housing and child health [ 38 ]. Evidence includes immediate impacts on mental and physical health outcomes and longer-term life course effects on wider determinants of health including education, employment and income as well as health outcomes [ 39 ].

The negative health impact of poor physical housing conditions has been well documented [ 40 , 41 ]. Housing instability and low housing quality are associated with worse psychological health among young people and parents [ 42 , 43 ]. The UK National Children’s Bureau [ 22 ] draws attention to US-based research showing that policies that reduced housing insecurity for young children can help to improve their emotional health [ 44 ], and that successful strategies for reducing housing insecurity have the potential to reduce negative outcomes for children with lived experience of housing insecurity, including emotional and behavioural problems, lower academic attainment and poor adult health and wellbeing [ 45 ]. A variety of pathways have been implicated in the relationship between housing insecurity and child health and wellbeing, including depression and psychological distress in parents, material hardships and difficulties in maintaining a good bedtime routine [ 38 ]. Frequent moves are also associated with poorer access to preventive health services, reflected, for example, in lower vaccination rates [ 46 , 47 ].

Housing tenure, unstable housing situations and the quality or suitability of homes are inter-related [ 48 ]. For example, if families are concerned that if they lost their home they would not be able to afford alternative accommodation, they may be more likely to stay in smaller or poor-quality accommodation or in a neighbourhood where they are further from work, school or family support. In this way, housing insecurity can lead to diverse negative health and wellbeing impacts relating to housing and the neighbourhoods, even if in the family does not experience frequent moves or homelessness [ 49 ]. Thus, the relationship between housing insecurity and child health is likely to be complicated by the frequent coexistence of poor housing conditions or unsuitable housing with housing insecurity. The relationship between unstable housing situations and health outcomes is further confounded by other major stressors, such as poverty and changes in employment and family structure, which may lead to frequent moves.

The evidence from cohort studies that show a relationship between housing insecurity, homelessness or frequent moves in childhood and health related outcomes can usefully quantify the proportion of children/young people and families at risk of poorer health associated with housing instability. It can, however, only suggest plausible causal associations. Further, the ‘less tangible aspects of housing’ such as instability are poorly understood [ 40 ]. Additional (and arguably stronger) evidence documenting the relationship between housing insecurity and health/wellbeing comes from the case studies and qualitative interviews with children and young people and families that explore the direct and indirect impacts of housing insecurity on their everyday lives and wellbeing. Thus, the current review aimed to identify, appraise and synthesise research evidence that explores the relationship between housing insecurity and the health and wellbeing among children and young people. We aimed to highlight the relevant factors and causal mechanisms to make evidence-based recommendations for policy, practice and future research priorities.

We undertook a systematic review synthesising qualitative data, employing elements of rapid review methodology in recognition that the review was time-constrained. This involved two steps: (1) a single screening by one reviewer of titles and abstracts, with a sample checked by another reviewer; and (2) a single data extraction and quality assessment, with a sample checked by another reviewer) [ 50 , 51 , 52 ]. The protocol is registered on the PROSPERO registry, registration number CRD42022327506.

Search strategy

Searches of the following databases were conducted on 8th April 2022 (from 2000 to April 2022): MEDLINE, EMBASE and PsycINFO (via Ovid); ASSIA and IBSS (via ProQuest) and Social Sciences Citation Index (via Web of Science). Due to the short timescales for this project, searches aimed to balance sensitivity with specificity, and were conceptualised around the following concepts: (housing insecurity) and (children or families) and (experiences); including synonyms, and with the addition of a filter to limit results to the UK where available [ 53 ]. To expedite translation of search strings across different databases, searches prioritised free text search strings (including proximity operators), in order to retrieve relevant terms where they occurred in titles, abstracts or any other indexing field (including subject headings). The searches of ASSIA and IBSS (via ProQuest) and Social Sciences Citation Index (via Web of Science) used a simplified strategy adapted from those reproduced in Additional File 1. Database searching was accompanied by scrutiny of reference lists of included papers and relevant systematic reviews (within search dates), and grey literature searching (see Supplementary Table 1, Additional File 2), which was conducted and documented using processes outlined by Stansfield et al . [ 54 ].

Inclusion criteria

We included qualitative studies, including qualitative elements of mixed methods studies from published and grey literature (excluding dissertations and non-searchable books), that explored the impact of housing insecurity, defined according to the Children’s Society [ 15 ] definition (which includes actual or perceived insecurity related to housing situations), on immediate and short-term outcomes related to childhood mental and physical health and wellbeing (up to the age of 16), among families experiencing / at risk of housing insecurity in the UK (including low-income families, lone-parent families, and ethnic minority group families including migrants, refugees and asylum seekers). Informants could include children and young people themselves, parents / close family members, or other informants with insight into the children and young people’s experiences. Children and young people outside a family unit (i.e., who had left home or were being looked after by the local authority) and families from Roma and Irish Traveller communities were excluded, as their circumstances are likely to differ substantially from the target population.

Study selection

Search results from electronic databases were downloaded to a reference management application (EndNote). The titles and abstracts of all records were screened against the inclusion criteria by one of three reviewers and checked for agreement by a further reviewer. Full texts of articles identified at abstract screening were screened against the inclusion criteria by one reviewer. A proportion (10%) of papers excluded at the full paper screening stage were checked by a second reviewer. Any disagreements were resolved through discussion.

Grey literature searches and screening were documented in a series of tables [ 54 ]. One reviewer (of two) screened titles of relevant web pages and reports against the inclusion criteria for each web platform searched, and downloaded and screened the full texts of potentially eligible titles. Queries relating to selection were checked by another reviewer, with decisions discussed among the review team until a consensus was reached.

One reviewer (of two) screened reference lists of included studies and relevant reviews for potentially relevant papers. One reviewer downloaded the abstracts and full texts of relevant references and assessed them for relevance.

Data extraction

We devised a data extraction form based on forms that the team has previously tested for similar reviews of public health topics. Three reviewers piloted the extraction form and suggested revisions were agreed before commencing further extraction. Three reviewers extracted and tabulated key data from the included papers and grey literature sources, with one reviewer completing data extraction of each study and a second reviewer formally checking a 10% sample for accuracy and consistency. The following data items were extracted: author and year, location, aims, whether housing insecurity was an aim, study design, analysis, who the informants were, the housing situation of the family, reasons for homelessness or housing insecurity, conclusion, relevant policy/practice implications and limitations. Any qualitative data relating to housing insecurity together with some aspect of health or wellbeing in children and young people aged 0–16 years were extracted, including authors’ themes (to provide context), authors’ interpretations, and verbatim quotations from participants. We sought to maintain fidelity to author and participant terminologies and phrasing throughout.

Quality appraisal

Peer-reviewed academic literature was appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist for qualitative studies [ 55 ] and the quality of grey literature sources (webpages and reports) was appraised using the Authority, Accuracy, Coverage, Objectivity, Date, Significance (AACODS) checklist [ 56 ]. Because of concerns about the lack of peer review and/or the absence of a stated methodology, it was decided to use the AACODS tool that extends beyond simple assessment of study design. A formal quality assessment checklist was preferred for journal articles that passed these two entry criteria. One reviewer performed quality assessment, with a second reviewer formally checking a 10% sample for accuracy and consistency.

Development of the conceptual framework

Prior to undertaking the current review, we undertook preliminary literature searches to identify an appropriate conceptual framework or logic model to guide the review and data synthesis process. However, we were unable to identify a framework that specifically focused on housing insecurity among children and young people and that was sufficiently broad to capture relevant contexts, exposures and impacts. We therefore developed an a priori conceptual framework based on consultation with key policy and practice stakeholders and topic experts and examination of key policy documents (see Fig.  1 ).

A priori conceptual framework for the relationship between housing insecurity and the health and wellbeing of children and young people

We initially consulted policy experts who identified relevant organisations including research centres, charities and other third sector organisations. We obtained relevant policy reports from organisational contacts and websites, including Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), Crisis, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) and HACT (Housing Association Charitable Trust), NatCen (People Living in Bad Housing, 2013), the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE), and the Centre on Household Assets and Savings Management (CHASM) (Homes and Wellbeing, 2018). We also identified a key report on family homelessness from the Children’s Commissioner (Bleak Houses. 2019) and a joint report from 11 charities and advocacy organisations published by Shelter (Post-Covid Policy: Child Poverty, Social Security and Housing, 2022). We also consulted local authority officers with responsibility for housing and their teams in two local councils and third sector providers of housing-related support to young people and families (Centrepoint). Stakeholders and topic experts were invited to comment on the potential focus of the review and the appropriate definitions and scope for the ‘exposure’ (unstable housing), the population (children and young people) and outcomes (health and wellbeing). Exposures relate to how children and families experience housing insecurity, impacts are intermediate outcomes that may mediate the effects of housing insecurity on health and wellbeing (e.g., the psychological, social, and environmental consequences of experiencing housing insecurity), and outcomes are childhood health and wellbeing effects of housing insecurity (including the effects of the impacts/intermediate outcomes).

The contextual factors and main pathways between housing-related factors and the health and wellbeing of children and young people identified were incorporated into the initial conceptual framework. We then used this conceptual framework to guide data synthesis.

Data synthesis

We adopted a dual approach whereby we synthesised data according to the a priori conceptual framework and sought additional themes, categories and nuance inductively from the data, in an approach consistent with the second stage of ‘best fit framework synthesis’ [ 57 , 58 ]. We analysed inductive themes using the Thomas and Harden [ 59 ] approach to thematic synthesis, but coded text extracts (complete sentences or clauses) instead of coding line by line [ 60 , 61 ].

First, one reviewer (of two) coded text extracts inductively and within the conceptual framework, simultaneously, linking each relevant text extract to both an inductive code based on the content of the text extract, and to an element of the conceptual framework. We assigned multiple codes to some extracts, and the codes could be linked to any single element or to multiple elements of the conceptual framework. During the process of data extraction, we identified four distinct populations, and coded (and synthesised) data discretely for each population. We initially coded data against the ‘exposure’, ‘impacts’ and ‘outcomes’ elements of the conceptual framework, however we subsequently added a further element within the data; ‘protective factors’. One reviewer then examined the codes relating to each element of the conceptual framework and grouped the codes according to conceptual similarity and broader meaning, reporting the thematic structure and relationships between concepts apparent from the text extracts both narratively and within a diagram to illustrate hypothesised causal pathways within the original conceptual framework, to highlight links between specific exposures, impacts and outcomes for each population. While we synthesised the findings by population initially, and present separate diagrams for each population, we present overall findings in this manuscript due to several similarities and then highlight any important differences for the domestic violence, migrant/refugee/asylum seeker, and relocation populations.

Study selection and included studies

Here we report the results of our three separate searchers. First, the database searches generated 3261 records after the removal of duplicates. We excluded 3025 records after title and abstract screening, examined 236 full texts, and included 16 peer-reviewed papers (reporting on 16 studies). The reasons for exclusion of each paper are provided in the Supplementary Table 2, Additional File 3. Second, we examined 726 grey literature sources (after an initial title screen) and included 37 papers. Third, we examined 85 papers that we identified as potentially relevant from the references lists of included papers and relevant reviews, and included six (two of which were peer-reviewed publications). Figure  2 summarises the process of study selection and Table 2  presents a summary of study characteristics. Of the included studies, 16 took place across the UK as a whole, one was conducted in England and Scotland, one in England and Wales and 17 in England. In terms of specific locations, where these were reported, 13 were reported to have been conducted in London (including specific boroughs or Greater London), two in Birmingham, one in Fife, two in Glasgow, one in Leicester, one in Rotherham and Doncaster, and one in Sheffield. The location of one study was not reported (Table 2 ).

Flow diagram of study selection

We identified four distinct populations for which research evidence was available during the process of study selection and data extraction:

General population (evidence relating to housing insecurity in general) (reported in 40 papers);

Domestic violence population (children and young people experiencing housing insecurity associated with domestic violence) (reported in nine papers);

Migrant, refugee and asylum seeker population (children and young people experiencing housing insecurity associated with migration status) (reported in 13 papers);

Relocation population (evidence relating to families forced to relocate due to planned demolition) (reported in two papers).

Evidence relating to each of these populations was synthesised separately as the specific housing circumstances may impact health and wellbeing differently and we anticipated that specific considerations would relate to each population. Some studies reported evidence for more than one population.

Quality of evidence

The quality of evidence varied across the studies, with published literature generally being of higher quality than grey literature and containing more transparent reporting of methods, although reporting of methods of data collection and analysis varied considerably within the grey literature. All 18 peer-reviewed studies reported an appropriate methodology, addressing the aim of the study with an adequate design. Eleven of the 18 peer-reviewed studies reported ethical considerations, and only two reported reflexivity. Most studies had an overall assessment of moderate-high quality (based on the endorsement of most checklist items) and no studies were excluded based on quality. Most of the grey literature originated from known and valued sources (e.g., high-profile charities specialising in poverty and housing, with the research conducted by university-based research teams). Although methodologies and methods were often poorly described (or not at all), primary data in the form of quotations was usually available and suitable to contribute to the development of themes within the evidence base as a whole. Quality appraisals of included studies are presented in Supplementary Tables 3 and 4, Additional File 4.

Housing insecurity and the health and wellbeing of children and young people

The updated conceptual framework for the impact of housing insecurity on the health and wellbeing of children aged 0–16 years in family units is presented in Fig.  3 for the general population, Fig.  4 for the domestic violence population, Fig.  5 for the refugee/migrant/asylum seeker population, and Fig.  6 for the relocation population (arrows represent links identified in the evidence and coloured arrows are used to distinguish links relating to each element of the model). Table 3 outlines the themes, framework components and studies reporting data for each theme.

Conceptual framework for the relationship between housing insecurity and health and wellbeing in the general population

Conceptual framework for the relationship between housing insecurity and health and wellbeing in the domestic violence population

Conceptual framework for the relationship between housing insecurity and health and wellbeing in the migrant, refugee and asylum seeker population

Conceptual framework for the relationship between housing insecurity and health and wellbeing in the relocation population

Exposures are conceptualised as the manifestations of housing insecurity – that is, how the children and young people experience it – and housing insecurity was experienced in multiple and various ways. These included trouble paying for housing, eviction or the prospect of eviction, making multiple moves, living in temporary accommodation, and the inaccessibility of suitable accommodation.

Fundamentally, a key driver of housing insecurity is poverty. Parents and, in some cases, young people cited the high cost of housing, in particular housing benefit not fully covering the rent amount [ 116 ], trouble making housing payments and falling into arrears [ 15 , 92 , 97 ]. Sometimes, families were evicted for non-payment [ 15 , 102 ], often linked to the rising cost of housing [ 109 ] or loss of income [ 102 ]. Some children and young people were not aware of reasons for eviction [ 90 ], and the prospect of facing eviction was also a source of housing insecurity [ 116 ].

The cost of housing could lead to families having to move multiple times [ 116 ], with lack of affordability and the use of short-term tenancies requiring multiple moves [ 109 , 116 ]. Children and young people were not always aware of the reasons for multiple moves [ 15 ]. Multiple moves could impact upon education and friendships [ 77 , 82 ].

Living in temporary housing was a common experience of housing insecurity [ 15 , 71 , 87 , 90 , 94 , 98 , 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 ]. Temporary housing caused worry at the thought of having to move away from school and friends [ 91 ] and acute distress, which manifested as bedwetting, night waking and emotional and behavioural issues at school [ 66 ]. Living in a hostel for a period of time could lead to friendship issues due to not being able to engage in sleepovers with friends [ 102 ].

The inaccessibility of suitable accommodation also contributed to insecurity. Sometimes, when a family needed to move, they had to fulfil certain requirements, for instance, to decorate their overcrowded 3-bedroom accommodation to be eligible for a more suitable property [ 15 ]. Further, some families encountered the barrier of landlords who would not accept people on benefits [ 15 , 85 , 117 ]. Waiting lists for social housing could be prohibitively long [ 97 , 98 , 116 ].

Dual exposures and impacts

Some phenomena were found to be both exposures and impacts of housing insecurity, in that some issues and experiences that were impacts of housing insecurity further exacerbated the living situation, causing further insecurity. These included not feeling safe, exposure to problematic behaviour, living far away from daily activities, overcrowding, and poor or unsuitable condition properties.

Not feeling safe was frequently reported by children and young people, and by parents in relation to the safety of children and young people. Parents and children and young people described being moved to neighbourhoods or localities [ 15 , 69 , 87 , 90 , 103 ] and accommodation [ 87 , 97 , 109 , 112 , 113 , 114 ] that did not feel safe. For one family, this was due to racial abuse experienced by a parent while walking to school [ 69 ]. In one case, a young person’s perception of safety improved over time, and they grew to like the neighbours and area [ 15 ], although this was a rare occurrence.

Often, this experience of being unsafe was due to exposure to problematic behaviour in or around their accommodation, including hearing other children being treated badly [ 112 ], being exposed to violence (including against their parents) [ 111 , 112 , 114 ], witnessing people drinking and taking drugs [ 69 , 83 , 90 , 111 , 112 , 114 ], finding drug paraphernalia in communal areas [ 112 , 114 ] or outside spaces [ 69 ], hearing threats of violence [ 111 ], hearing shouting and screaming in other rooms [ 114 ], witnessing people breaking into their room [ 83 ], and witnessing their parent/s receiving racist abuse and being sworn at [ 83 ].

‘There’s a lot [of] drugs and I don’t want my kids seeing that… One time he said ‘mummy I heard a woman on the phone saying ‘I’m going to set fire to your face’’ She was saying these things and my son was hearing it.’ ( [ 111 ] , p.15)

Another impact related to the family and children and young people being isolated and far away from family, friends, other support networks, work, shops, school and leisure pursuits due to the location of the new or temporary housing [ 15 , 83 , 87 , 97 , 104 , 109 ]. This affected education, friendships, finances and access to services (see ‘ Impacts ’).

Overcrowding was another issue that was both a source or feature of housing insecurity, as this created a need to move, as well as being an impact, in that families moved to unsuitable properties because they had little alternative. Overcrowding was largely a feature of temporary accommodation that was too small for the family [ 67 , 91 ], including hostels/shared houses where whole families inhabited one room and washing facilities were shared [ 100 , 102 ]. In turn, overcrowding could mean siblings sharing a room and/or bed [ 15 , 41 , 64 , 71 , 78 , 109 , 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 , 116 ] (which could lead to disturbed sleep [ 15 ]), children/young people or family members sleeping on the floor or sofa [ 15 , 71 , 102 , 110 ] (which caused aches and pains in children/young people; [ 100 ]), children/young people sharing a room with parents [ 64 , 71 , 94 , 109 , 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 ], a room being too small to carry out day to day tasks [ 112 , 113 , 114 ], a lack of privacy in general (e.g., having to change clothes in front of each other) [ 70 , 111 , 112 , 114 ], living in close proximity to other families [ 114 ], and cramped conditions with little room to move when too many people and possessions had to share a small space [ 15 , 64 , 90 , 97 , 103 , 109 , 114 ].

It’s all of us in one room, you can imagine the tension…. everyone’s snapping because they don’t have their own personal space …it’s just a room with two beds. My little brother has to do his homework on the floor.’ ( [ 97 ] , p..43)

It was thus difficult for children and young people to have their own space, even for a short time [ 98 ], including space to do schoolwork [ 102 , 103 ], play [ 91 ] or invite friends over [ 103 ]. Families sometimes ended up overcrowded due to cohabiting with extended family [ 110 ] or friends [ 91 , 102 ] (‘hidden homelessness’). Other families outgrew their property, or anticipated they would in future, when children grew older [ 70 , 116 ]. Overcrowding sometimes meant multiple families inhabiting a single building (e.g., a hostel or shelter), where single parents had difficulties using shared facilities, due to not wanting to leave young children alone [ 100 ]. Overcrowding could also lead to children feeling unsafe, including being scared of other people in shared accommodation [ 102 ], experiencing noise [ 102 ], and feeling different from peers (due to not having their own room or even bed) [ 102 ]. Living in overcrowded conditions could lead to, or exacerbate, boredom, aggressive behaviour, and mental health problems among children and young people (see ‘ Outcomes ’) [ 72 , 79 , 91 ]. Overcrowded conditions caused a ‘relentless daily struggle’ for families ([ 83 ], p.48).

Similarly, the need to take whatever property was on offer led to families living in properties in poor condition, which in turn could exacerbate housing insecurity, both because families needed to escape the poor condition housing and because they were reluctant to complain and ask for repairs on their current property in case the landlord increased the rent or evicted them [ 86 , 96 ]. Eviction was perceived as a real threat and families described being evicted after requesting environmental health issues [ 74 ] and health and safety issues [ 116 ] be addressed. Families experienced issues relating to poor condition properties, including accommodation being in a poor state of decoration [ 98 ], broken or barely useable fixtures and fittings [ 86 , 90 , 96 ], no laundry or cooking facilities [ 102 ], no electricity [ 67 ], no or little furniture [ 67 , 102 ], broken appliances [ 71 , 96 , 97 ], structural failings [ 97 ], unsafe gardens [ 90 ], mould [ 71 , 90 , 96 , 97 , 104 , 109 ], and bedbugs and/or vermin [ 67 , 76 , 77 ]. Even where the property condition was acceptable, accommodation could be unsuitable in other ways. Many families with young children found themselves living in upper floor flats, having to navigate stairs with pushchairs and small children [ 71 , 74 , 78 , 83 , 87 , 92 , 109 ]. One study reported how a family with a child who had cerebral palsy and asthma were refused essential central heating and so had to request a property transfer [ 75 ]. Lack of space to play was a particular issue in relation to temporary accommodation, often due to overly small accommodation or a vermin infestation [ 80 , 87 , 91 ]. In small children, the effects included health and safety risks [ 87 , 112 ] and challenges keeping them occupied [ 112 ]. In older children and young people, a lack of space meant a lack of privacy [ 63 , 112 ]. School holidays could be particularly challenging, particularly when outside play spaces were unsuitable due to safety concerns (e.g., people selling drugs, broken glass) [ 87 , 106 ], and some temporary accommodation restricted access during the daytime [ 112 ]. With shared temporary accommodation, such as a refuge or hostel, came the threat of possessions being removed by others [ 80 ].

Impacts are defined here as intermediate outcomes that may mediate the effects of housing insecurity on health and wellbeing, for instance, the psychological, social, and environmental consequences of experiencing housing insecurity. According to the evidence reviewed, these were overwhelmingly negative, with only a very small number of positive impacts, and, in many cases, these were offset by other negative impacts. Impacts on friendships, education, family relationships, diet, hygiene, access to services, feelings of being different, feelings of insecurity, parental wellbeing, the financial situation of the family, experiences of noise, leaving negative situations behind, and other impacts, such as leaving pets behind and time costs, were noted. Overlaying all of the above was a lack of choice and control experienced by the children/young people and their families.

A particularly large and disruptive impact of housing insecurity was the effect on friendships and social networks. Over multiple moves, children and young people faced the challenge of building new social networks and reputations each time [ 15 , 90 , 106 ], and worried about maintaining existing friendships [ 90 ]. The beneficial side to this was the potential to have friends all over town, although this was offset by difficulty in forming close friendships due to frequent moves [ 15 ]. Children and young people in temporary, overcrowded or poor condition accommodation often felt ashamed of their housing and concealed it from their friends [ 15 , 73 , 78 , 111 , 112 , 114 , 115 ], and in one case missing out on sleepovers with friends [ 102 ]. Moving far from friends presented difficulties in maintaining friendships and a social life, leading to boredom and isolation [ 102 , 114 ]. The threat of an impending long-distance move could cause sadness and worry [ 114 ] and young people missed the friends they had left behind [ 15 , 90 ]. Other associated social impacts of housing insecurity exacerbated by the wider experience of poverty included turning turn down invitations to go out with friends for financial reasons [ 115 ] or to avoid leaving a parent alone with younger sibling/s [ 114 ], and feeling different from peers, either because of looking unkempt or lacking in confidence [ 115 ].

Another key impact of housing insecurity was the effect on education, and this was closely intertwined with friendship impacts. Faced with moving, often multiple times, sometimes to uncertain locations, families were faced with the decision to keep the same school or to change schools. Multiple moves and/or an unfeasibly long journey to school, led to either a decision to, or anticipating the prospect of having to, change schools [ 15 , 66 , 90 , 91 , 102 , 106 , 108 , 111 , 116 ]. This could in turn impact on the child’s sense of stability, academic performance and friendships [ 90 , 105 , 106 , 111 , 115 , 116 ] and make them feel sad [ 102 ]. In the case of one family, staying at the same school during a move resulted in decreased educational attainment [ 69 ].

Staying at the same school created some stability and allowed for friendships and connections with teachers and the school to be maintained [ 15 , 102 ]. This was, however, quite often the only option, due to the family not knowing their next location, and thus which school they would be near [ 15 , 102 , 113 ], and was not without issues. Those who were unhappy with school were thus effectively prevented from changing schools due to housing insecurity [ 15 , 90 ]. Families were often re-housed at a considerable distance from the school [ 15 , 70 , 93 , 94 , 113 ]. This meant having to get up very early for a long journey by public transport [ 15 , 66 , 70 , 77 , 88 , 90 , 94 , 102 , 105 , 106 , 111 , 113 ], which also caused problems maintaining friendships [ 115 ], increased tiredness and stress [ 15 , 66 , 77 , 102 , 111 , 113 , 114 , 115 ] and left little time for homework and extra-curricular activities [ 113 , 114 , 115 ]. Some children and young people stayed with friends or relatives closer to school on school nights, although these arrangements were not sustainable longer-term [ 15 , 90 ].

Living in temporary housing was associated with practical challenges in relation to schooling, for instance, keeping track of uniform and other possessions, limited laundry facilities, and limited washing facilities [ 112 , 115 ]. Parents noted academic performance worsened following the onset of housing problems [ 111 , 113 , 116 ]. Limited space and time to do homework or revision [ 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 , 115 ], tiredness and poor sleep [ 111 , 113 ], travelling and disrupted routines [ 114 ], disruptions from other families (e.g. in a hostel) [ 114 ], a lack of internet connection [ 114 ], and the general impact of the housing disruption [ 111 , 113 , 116 ] made it challenging for those experiencing housing insecurity to do well at school. Families often had to wake up early to access shared facilities in emergency accommodation before school [ 113 , 114 ]. Some children and young people missed school altogether during periods of transience, due to multiple moves rendering attendance unviable [ 71 , 106 , 111 ], lack of a school place in the area [ 109 ], or not being able to afford transport and lunch money [ 81 ], which in turn affected academic performance [ 106 , 111 ].

‘Their education was put on hold. My daughter was ahead on everything in her class and she just went behind during those two weeks.’ ([ 111 ] , p.15)

Children and young people also experienced an impact on immediate family relationships. Housing insecurity led to reduced family wellbeing [ 82 ], and family relationships becoming more strained, for instance, due to spending more time at friends’ houses that were far away [ 15 ]. In some cases, however, housing insecurity led to improved family relationships, for instance, in terms of a non-resident father becoming more involved [ 15 ], or children feeling closer to their parents [ 106 ].

Some impacts related to the child’s health and wellbeing. Impacts on diet were reported, including refusal of solid food (which affected growth) [ 113 ], stress and repeated moves leading to not eating properly (which resulted in underweight) [ 91 ], insufficient money to eat properly [ 15 , 99 , 106 ], a lack of food storage and preparation space [ 102 , 103 , 112 ], and a hazardous food preparation environment [ 112 ]. Unsuitable temporary accommodation, including converted shipping containers, hostels, B&Bs and poorly maintained houses were particularly likely to be associated with a wide range of other well-being related impacts. Unsuitable accommodation presented various problems, including excessive heat, dripping water, overcrowding, damp, dirt, electrical hazards, vermin, flooding and a lack of washing and laundry facilities [ 41 , 67 , 71 , 74 , 76 , 77 , 81 , 87 , 88 , 102 , 104 , 106 , 109 , 112 , 116 ]. Moving could also impact on access to services and continuity of care, including being unable to register with general practitioners [ 82 ], and difficulty in maintaining continuity of medical care [ 65 ].

Psychological impacts of housing insecurity included feeling different from peers [ 115 ], feeling disappointed in each new property after being initially hopeful [ 15 ], and having trouble fitting in, in a new area [ 15 ]. Feeling insecure (including uncertainty over when and where the next move will be, or if another move is happening) was a further impact of living in insecure housing situations (including temporary housing, making multiple moves, being evicted) [ 15 , 87 , 90 , 114 , 116 ], leading to stress and worry [ 15 , 114 ].

One of the major issues that [she] says affects her mental health is the uncertainty of their situation. She says it is hard to not know where they will be staying one night to the next. It is also difficult to adjust to living without her furniture and clothes ( [ 114 ] , p.17)

Multiple moves, or anticipating a move, disrupted children and young people’s sense of continuity and led to the experience of a loss of security and stability more generally [ 15 , 85 , 87 ]. This led children and young people to feel responsible for helping and providing support to their parents, including hiding their feelings [ 111 , 114 ], or not requesting things be bought [ 15 , 113 ]. Children and young people also felt a sense of displacement and a lack of belonging [ 15 , 115 ]. Loss of stability and security triggered a desire for stability, to be able to settle, have friends over, and not have to worry about moving [ 109 ].

Housing insecurity also had a negative effect on parent-wellbeing, and this impacted the wellbeing of young people both directly [ 15 , 65 , 102 , 106 ] and indirectly through increased arguments and family stress [ 15 , 93 ] and reduced parental ability to care for children with chronic conditions [ 41 ]. Parents also perceived their reduced wellbeing as negatively impacting their children's development [ 41 ]. The threat of sanctions for missed housing payment could lead to reduced well-being among the whole family, characterised by feelings of despair, failure and a loss of hope [ 93 ].

Moving also had a financial impact on families. Moving into much smaller temporary accommodation meant that possessions had to be left behind, with the family having to pay for decorating, carpets, curtains and furniture each time they moved [ 15 , 84 , 98 , 104 , 105 ], incurring considerable debt [ 98 ]. If the new location was far away from school, family, friends and, in some cases, shops, then the family incurred travel costs [ 15 , 87 , 94 , 112 , 114 ]. Because of all this, children and young people’s requests for possessions or experiences (e.g., trips out) were refused [ 113 ].

Excessive noise was another disruption that children and young people experienced in connection with their precarious housing situation. Sources of noise were traffic on a main road [ 15 ] a factory nearby [ 110 ], or from other people in a B&B, hotel, hostel, or neighbouring properties [ 15 , 91 , 102 , 106 , 112 ], and could disrupt sleep and daily activities.

If their current conditions were sufficiently bad, some children and young people felt positively about moving, to leave negative things behind. For instance, a move could take them close to friends [ 15 ] or they may have more space in the new property [ 15 ]. Quite often, however, negative impacts of moving seemed to offset any benefit [ 90 ].

Frequent moves could impact on children and young people’s health and wellbeing in other ways. Space might be even more squeezed by cardboard boxes in preparation for an impending move [ 15 ]. Some children reported having to leave beloved pets behind [ 90 ]. Time costs associated with moving meant less time for other activities [ 15 ]. Multiple moves, particularly across local authority boundaries, could impact the family’s access to services [ 41 , 71 ], including health services [ 90 ], specialist healthcare required to manage children’s health conditions [ 83 ], and social services [ 85 , 93 ].

One key impact that overlaid all of the above but was rarely mentioned was a lack of choice or control [ 109 ]. This was inherent in the families’ and children/young people’s accounts of their experiences of housing insecurity, through talk of not knowing where their next move would be or when, and having to move long distances away from the places they used frequently and the people who supported them. Even the journey into housing insecurity was often outside of families’ control, such as increases in rent, change in income, or eviction notices (see ‘ Exposure ’). Families often could not improve properties in poor condition because they could not afford repairs to properties in poor condition, so felt they had to live with these problems [ 90 ]. Some families avoided reporting problems to the landlord for fear of a rent increase or eviction (see ‘ Exposure ’). Children and young people in particular felt that they lacked control over their housing situation, and in some cases were not aware of reasons for moves [ 15 ].

Several childhood health and wellbeing outcomes have been documented in relation to, and they are overwhelmingly negative. These consisted of mental health problems, physical health problems, tiredness, and stunted child development. Living in temporary housing, making multiple moves, and the instability and insecurity associated with anticipating a move, or being uncertain whether a move would be needed, had an obvious negative impact on the mental health of children and young people [ 41 , 63 , 79 , 107 ], including in terms of self-harm [ 71 , 96 , 97 , 107 , 111 ], thoughts of suicide [ 71 ], anxiety [ 71 , 90 , 103 , 111 , 112 , 115 ], and depression [ 110 , 115 ]. Sometimes these problems manifested as physical pain [ 106 ], nightmares [ 84 ], night waking [ 107 ], or wetting the bed [ 63 , 107 , 111 ]. Stress, anger, isolation, fear, worry about the future (including about having to move again), worry about safety and acute distress were also reported [ 15 , 63 , 73 , 79 , 82 , 84 , 89 , 90 , 96 , 109 , 114 , 115 , 118 ]. One child with distress/mental health problems (as a result of having to make multiple moves) stopped eating properly (resulting in underweight and anaemia), and became socially withdrawn [ 79 ]. Another child reported weight loss and mental health problems due to worry about the future housing situation [ 95 ]. One study reported on stress and anxiety in children due to the trauma of losing their home and the emergency accommodation being unsuitable and temporary [ 111 ].

‘My six year old has been going to the doctors because he’s developed a nervous tick since we’ve been in that room. He was constantly nervous all the time. He’s so unsettled still and he knows that we’re still not settled. He’s really anxious. He’s become violent […]’ ( [ 111 ] , p.13)

Sometimes children and young people’s mental health issues would be displayed through problematic behaviour such as withdrawal, stealing, smoking, drug-taking, aggressive behaviour, and running away [ 68 , 71 , 79 , 84 , 97 , 107 , 114 , 115 ]. Teachers observed that younger children tended to get more withdrawn and older children and young people tended to get more angry and antagonistic, although the same child could cycle between these two states [ 115 ]. Separation anxiety was also reported [ 87 , 111 ].

Children and young people also experienced physical health problems as a result of living in temporary accommodation, poor condition housing, and making multiple moves, including the development or exacerbation of asthma [ 69 , 81 , 90 ] and eczema [ 41 , 81 , 90 , 111 ], stomach bugs [ 71 ], insect bites [ 112 ], infectious diseases [ 41 , 109 , 112 ], headaches [ 113 ], stomach aches [ 109 , 113 ], exacerbation of long-term conditions [ 41 , 75 , 109 ], rashes and asthma as a result of damp [ 100 ], a dermatological condition as a result of living in a hotel [ 91 ], other physical symptoms in young children, such as coughing and vomiting [ 100 ] and musculoskeletal pain from sleeping in unsuitable places [ 102 ]. One study reported illness in a baby following a difficult birth, attributed to housing-related stress in the mother [ 83 ]. Rarer outcomes included weight gain due to a lack of cooking facilities and thus reliance on fast food, weight loss due to stress [ 79 , 95 ] and head lice due to close contact with others [ 115 ]. Some properties presented risk of injury to babies and young children [ 41 ].

Tiredness was also reported, in relation to travelling a long distance to school and to visit family and friends [ 15 , 66 , 77 , 102 , 112 , 115 ]. Tiredness also resulted from poor quality sleep due to the unsuitable nature of the accommodation (e.g., poor state of repair, overcrowded), sleeping on a sofa [ 102 ], and worrying about the housing situation [ 15 , 41 , 87 , 109 , 112 , 114 ].

Impacts on the perceived development of young children were reported, in particular in relation to having no space to play, which impacted standing/walking and emotional development [ 87 , 111 ], and multiple moves, which impacted on potty training and speech development [ 87 , 111 ]. One study reported an impact on growth due refusal of solid food [ 113 ].

Protective factors

Protective factors were not presented in the original conceptual framework. However, we identified specific protective factors that were perceived to lessen the impact of housing insecurity on wellbeing among children and adolescents. These included friendship, keeping the same school, normalising housing insecurity, home-making, having a plan, hope, protective parenting, and some interventions.

Friendship was a key protective factor. Retaining connections with friends and peer networks following moves was important [ 15 , 90 ], and school facilitated this [ 114 ]. Indeed, another related strategy was to keep children and young people enrolled in the same school during and after moves, to retain some stability [ 15 , 70 , 90 , 108 ].

Some sources noted that children and young people tended to normalise and destigmatise their housing insecurity as something to be expected given that the family is poor or receives benefits [ 15 , 62 , 90 ]. This response could be a coping/defence mechanism to try to deal with the negative impacts of being insecurely housed.

Another, more positive, coping strategy was to make the property feel more like a home. For instance, decorating the property could lead to children and young people feeling more settled and ‘at home’, even if the ultimate intention was to move [ 15 ]. Further coping strategies included having a plan of how things could go to keep anxiety at bay and retain some control [ 15 ], seeing the advantages of a location [ 15 ], and hoping for a better house next time, and/or hoping that the family would settle in a permanent home [ 15 ].

Parents also acted to protect children and young people from the negative impacts of housing insecurity, by concealing the full extent of their financial and housing problems [ 113 ], including children and young people in decision-making [ 70 , 90 ] (for instance, allowing children and young people to influence their parents’ decisions on location, where there was a choice [ 70 ]), and presenting their situation as an adventure [ 114 ]. One study also documented parents taking their children out to parks to give them space to run around [ 91 ].

Lastly, some positive findings were reported by an evaluation of the Families Intervention Project (FIP), for families at risk of eviction due to anti-social behaviour [ 118 ]. Families that worked closely with a multi-agency team experienced increased housing security, reduced stress and anxiety, and fewer behavioural problems among the children [ 118 ]. Another study reported positive effects of a peer-led parenting programme on children’s behaviour, although it is unclear how this impacted on their health and wellbeing [ 64 ].

Key findings relating to other populations

Families that have experienced domestic violence.

Domestic violence could be a source of housing insecurity both for families who leave the family home to seek safety and for those who stay. Families that leave can end up moving multiple times (and frequently), perhaps initially to a refuge and then into other forms of temporary housing, with families experiencing uncertainty over when the next move would be [ 90 , 105 ]. One study reported that experience of living in different places was perceived to be beneficial, although little detail was given, and this was offset by difficulty building peer networks [ 90 ]. In one family, the alternative to housing insecurity was for the children to be placed in local authority care, which was avoided through the children and other parent leaving the perpetrator [ 90 ].

Among families who stay in the family home (with the perpetrator leaving), housing insecurity could be created by the perpetrator refusing to pay the mortgage, leaving the family worried and uncertain:

‘ I’ve lost two stone, my son has lost ten pounds – he is only 15 – he is having counselling at school. It has just been a nightmare…He hasn’t paid the mortgage for a year because he wants to get me out so he can have the money… ’ ([ 95 ], p. 68). Friendship was particularly impacted among this population. To prevent the perpetrator from finding them, children were not able to disclose personal information [ 63 ]. This made it difficult to form close friendships.

Parents reported a lack of support offered to children and young people, including services that they needed [ 80 ]. However, where support was offered to parents and children/young people who had moved to escape abuse in their previous home, this support could improve wellbeing [ 63 , 79 , 80 ], acting as a protective factor. Particular forms of useful support included a parenting course [ 79 ] and supportive staff and peers at hostels [ 80 ]. Hostels offered a feeling of safety due to closed-circuit television [ 80 ]. One study reported that refuge and hostel staff were perceived as helpful but powerless to keep families safe in some cases, although children and young people found it helpful to talk and open up to staff about their situation [ 63 ]. One intervention, the Sanctuary scheme, allowed people experiencing/at risk of domestic violence to remain in their own home, with additional security [ 95 ].

Migrant, refugee and asylum seeker families

Migrant, refugee and asylum seeker families experienced similar forms of housing insecurity and similar impacts on everyday life and childhood health/wellbeing as did the general population. However, migrant/refugee families reported having to move suddenly, with very little notice (e.g., 48 h) [ 77 , 82 ]. They also lacked support from services and assistance with housing from the local authority. Consequently, families would end up homeless and have to beg friends to let them sleep on their sofas [ 101 ].

Once homeless, families slept in unsuitable locations, such as on the night bus, in a church, and in the waiting room of the Accident and Emergency (A&E) department. This led to extreme tiredness; in some cases, children were too tired to attend school [ 102 ]. That type of homelessness was a particular feature of the experience of housing insecurity among this population.

‘We had to keep going to McDonalds every night and we would also go to A&E. I would have to wear my school clothes and sleep like that.… They would say we have to sleep where the people wait but it’s just like lights […] The chairs were hard.’ (child aged 9) ( [ 102 ] , p. 22)

Other considerations specific to migrant/refugee/asylum seeker families were language barriers, which compounded the challenge of adjusting to a new area [ 82 ], and pressure to cook British food rather than food from their home country in communal facilities [ 106 ].

Families forced to relocate due to demolition

Two papers identified from the database search examined experiences of relocation; families were living in local authority accommodation in Glasgow and experienced a forced move as the high-rise block of flats they lived in was due to be demolished [ 69 , 70 ]. This forced location creates housing insecurity.

Despite the common source, however, housing insecurity was experienced in different ways by different families. One family reported not wanting to move as the children liked the area and their school and nursery, and one family was offered a flat but needed outdoor space [ 70 ]. Many families experienced the pre-relocation area as unsafe due to problematic behaviour in outdoor shared areas [ 69 ]. Because of this and no access to a private garden children lacked space to play [ 70 ]. Families also reported feeling shame in relation to the local area and the poor condition of their pre-relocation housing (a high-rise block of flats), and were keen to move to a less stigmatising area with better condition housing [ 69 , 70 ].

Most families managed to relocate to areas close enough for their children and young people to attend the same schools. However two families changed schools [ 69 , 70 ]. Children and young people felt shame and stigma relating to the local area and the flats themselves, with many young people reluctant to invite friends over, or others socialising in the corridor without inviting friends inside [ 70 ]. Thus, relocation could have positive impacts on families and children/young people. For three families, moving was a positive experience, with children and young people enjoying having a garden and growing to like their new neighbours and the area [ 69 ].

Although we anticipated potentially different experiences, impacts and outcomes relating to housing insecurity across the four populations, the evidence reviewed suggests many similarities. Some exposures were common to multiple populations, for instance, being evicted or having a forced move, living in temporary accommodation, experiencing overcrowding, exposure to problematic behaviour, poor condition/unsuitable property, and making multiple moves. Common impacts included social, school-related, psychological, financial and family wellbeing impacts, having to travel long distances to attend school and see friends, having to live in a property that was unsuitable or in a poor state of repair, overcrowded and often noisy, all of which could then further exacerbate housing insecurity. Outcomes reported across multiple populations included mental health problems (which could manifest in physical ways, for example, trouble eating and sleeping, or wetting the bed) and physical health problems such as skin complaints and asthma related to poor housing conditions. Protective factors common to multiple populations included friendship and support, staying at the same school, having hope for the future, and parenting practices. Pervasive throughout all populations and accounts was an overall lack of choice or control over the housing situation and poverty as a driving force.

These findings support and build upon previous literature that has examined the impact of housing insecurity on the health and wellbeing of children and young people, in terms of reduced mental and psychological wellbeing [ 21 , 42 , 43 ], ill health relating to homelessness or poor housing conditions [ 40 , 41 ], and disrupted family processes [ 38 ]. Likewise, the findings build upon prior cohort studies that support a causal relationship with child health [ 38 ], by highlighting the details of the hardships faced by children and young people experiencing housing insecurity and exploring relationships between exposures, ‘less tangible’ impacts and health and wellbeing outcomes.

Many elements of the Children’s Society definition of housing insecurity were identifiable in our review findings. A key element of housing insecurity is financial insecurity [ 17 , 19 ]; this was borne out in our findings where families were frequently exposed to high/rising costs of housing or reduced income. Indeed, our review found that families incurred additional costs due to multiple and/or frequent moves and/or moving into temporary accommodation. This could potentially increase financial insecurity, thus creating a vicious circle of housing insecurity and poverty. Having ‘a home that does not provide a sense of safety and security’ ([ 18 ], paragraph 3) was evident when children and young people reported not feeling safe in their accommodation, and relational insecurity was evident in families’ accounts of being moved far from friends, school and support networks.

In addition, we identified certain population-specific considerations. Families experiencing domestic violence faced a difficult choice between choosing to remain in the property and leaving the property, both with insecurity attached. Housing insecurity negatively impacted on friendships for all populations, however this could be potentially more challenging for those escaping domestic violence, due to the need to keep personal information confidential in order to maintain family safety.

Parents and children/young people in migrant, refugee and asylum seeker populations spoke of having very little notice before having to move out of a property, sometimes only 48 h. This created a housing emergency, captured in accounts of families becoming homeless and having to sleep in unsuitable places, such as the Accident and Emergency department waiting room or on a night bus. In some families, parents had no recourse to public funds, so even when children and young people were born in the UK, the family still ended up destitute and homeless, leading to significant worry.

A key factor in relocation was that families were forced to move by a particular date, as the high-rise block they lived in was scheduled for demolition. Many families desired a move, due to a lack of space, overcrowding, and unsafe outdoor spaces. However many did not want to leave behind social networks and schools in the community, and even some who wanted to move had difficulty finding a suitable property (e.g., for their family size).

A key challenge to synthesising the evidence was the complexity of the data, in particular the relationships between exposures and impacts. Factors that families initially experienced as exposures could then become impacts, and particular impacts could then worsen housing insecurity, in a cyclical fashion. For instance, overcrowded conditions could precipitate a move, but then the only property available may be in a poor state of repair, with intolerable living conditions, thus prompting a further move. Another key challenge in synthesising the qualitative evidence was that many elements of the experience of housing insecurity that were experienced simultaneously by children and young people have been artificially separated within the updated conceptual frameworks, making analysis problematic. For instance, those living in poor-condition temporary accommodation may want to move due the poor state of a property, but be worried about where they may end up next and whether children/young people will have to change schools and move far from friends. Such complexity has proved challenging to our overall synthesis. Policymakers and practitioners should be aware that the diagrams illustrating the hypothesised causal pathways simplify the multiple inter-related factors related to housing insecurity that impact on the wellbeing of children and young people. Identifiable common stresses including poverty, financial difficulties and debt, immigration/refugee status and domestic abuse will also exert direct significant effects on family wellbeing that prove difficult to separate from those directly due to housing insecurity.

Limitations

Limitations of the evidence base.

We have identified numerous literature sources, many rich with data relating to the experiences of children and young people, and synthesised these data into diagrams that illustrate hypothesised causal pathways within the original conceptual framework, with accompanying descriptions of the experiences of housing insecurity in children and young people. However, we cannot establish claims for the comprehensiveness of our diagrams that map hypothesised causal pathways from housing insecurity to childhood health/wellbeing based on the original conceptual framework. We mapped associations where they were present in the accounts of children/young people and other informants. However, the evidence base may have missed other potential associations, particularly for populations covered by a small number of studies.

Within the evidence base, accounts from parents or other informants proved extremely useful in examining the impacts of housing insecurity on the health and wellbeing of children and young people, particularly for younger children who are not able to yet articulate their experiences and feelings. Nevertheless, such accounts proved an insufficient substitute for rich and nuanced data directly from the children and young people themselves. Our public involvement group have informed us that children and young people may find it difficult to talk about their housing situation, and noted that we did not identify any research that explicitly examined the perspectives of young people who provide care for a parent.

Likewise, little available information relates to the health and wellbeing of children and young people, and it is difficult to establish whether the evidence we have reviewed has captured all relevant health and wellbeing experiences. The majority of the accounts of young people focused on the impacts (or intermediate outcomes) of housing insecurity, which means that we have been able to present a rich picture of these ‘less tangible’ impacts, but also that the links from these impacts to health and wellbeing outcomes is less well understood. For instance, our public involvement group noted that we had not reported any evidence relating to bullying as a result of experiencing housing insecurity.

Strengths and limitations of the review

Strengths of our review method include the prior use of a conceptual model, developed in consultation with stakeholders and topic experts, and examination of key policy documents, which guided the process of synthesis. Synthesis was thus both deductive (i.e., informed by the a priori conceptual model) and inductive (i.e., conducted using established thematic synthesis methods), which allowed for an organised and yet rich and nuanced picture of the impacts of housing insecurity on health and wellbeing among children and young people in the UK. The review was conducted by an established team of experienced reviewers and a methodologist.

A key limitation is that literature sources were far more plentiful than anticipated, including numerous long and detailed reports identified through grey literature searching. While this enhanced the richness of the dataset, it also expanded the review workload, leading to additional time constraints. Limited time and resource could be allocated for double-checking full texts (in particular in the grey literature) and extractions, and thus only a sample were double-checked. Time constraints also prevented citation searches of key included studies. Nevertheless, such an approach remains consistent with established rapid review methods with minimal consequences for missing or mis-reported evidence [ 50 , 51 , 52 ]. Time and resource constraints also prohibited examination of how experiences may differ according to location within the UK.

Implications for policy

It is important that decisions made about housing at a national and local level reflect the impacts that insecure housing can have on children and young people, and ensures that housing insecurity is prevented in the first place. The current review findings suggest that policies should focus on reducing housing insecurity in its totality among families. One way to do this is to focus on eviction, which is a significant cause of instability and a leading cause of households seeking homelessness assistance [ 25 ]. This could include ending no-fault evictions, as has been done in Scotland for private renters since 2017 and as proposed, but yet to be introduced by the UK government in 2019. Scotland’s introduction of longer tenancy agreements with the removal of no-fault evictions may also facilitate families being able to settle and reduce the need for multiple moves. Similarly, legislating for minimum standards in the private rented sector, as currently being explored [ 119 ], will protect children and young people from being exposed to unhealthy and dangerous conditions.

Other changes could include (1) stipulating minimum requirements for space in family properties and minimum requirements for property conditions; (2) advocating for families living in the private rental sector to improve their housing situation; (3) reducing the use of short-term tenancies so families are not required to make multiple moves; (4) providing affordable housing options that give families more choice; and (5) engaging families in the design of systems and services that meet their housing needs. Addressing poverty more widely should also help to alleviate housing insecurity among families in the UK, as much of the evidence reported on how poverty initiated and/or exacerbated housing insecurity, for instance, by restricting choice and by increasing worry. However, any changes will need adequate support for enforcement, something made clear by the limited effectiveness of policy introduced to protect people from revenge/retaliatory eviction [ 97 , 120 , 121 , 122 ], improve the quality and suitability of temporary accommodation, and, where possible, reduce the need for temporary accommodation through preventative measures.

Among families escaping domestic violence, support systems are needed to avoid destitution caused by the perpetrator (e.g., not paying the mortgage). There should also be systems in place to ensure that families are housed in a permanent residence as soon as possible following the initial placement in emergency temporary accommodation after leaving the family home, with as few moves as possible. Appropriate support with housing should be made available to refugee/asylum seeker/migrant families, including those where the parents have no recourse to public funds, and short-notice and long-distance moves should be avoided, particularly where these take families away from their support systems and communities.

Implications for practice

Where possible, interventions to reduce or eliminate housing insecurity should be implemented. Where this is not possible, interventions should focus on reducing the impact of housing insecurity, for instance, by ensuring long journeys can be avoided, that accommodation is of a decent standard, and by providing adequate support to families and children young people. Practitioners who work to house families should prioritise stable, suitable and good quality housing. Practitioners who interact with children and young people experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness (e.g., clinicians, teachers, social workers) should recognise the complexity of the children and young people’s experiences, including how the situation and circumstances (e.g., escaping domestic violence, migration status) might impact on their health and wellbeing, and that impacts vary on an individual basis, particularly in assessments and family support plans. A multiagency approach should be utilised with families to mitigate the impacts of housing insecurity, poor housing conditions or unsuitable housing. Practitioners should consider the impacts of continuity of school, support and services, and the need for mental health support, parenting and counselling, for instance through providing support with transport to enable children and young people to stay at their current school, and support to maintain friendships. All those working with children/young people and families experiencing housing insecurity should consider ways to offer them optimal choice and control over situations that affect them.

All practitioners and professionals (e.g., teachers) who work with children and young people from families who have escaped domestic violence should ensure that the children and young people are receiving appropriate support from all relevant services, and that appropriate safety measures are in place to protect the family from the perpetrator.

Research recommendations

Future qualitative research could focus explicitly on the health and wellbeing of children and young people experiencing housing insecurity, and how they link with the impacts and outcomes identified in the current review. In particular, research could explore how the health and wellbeing of children and young people are affected by the impacts of housing insecurity on friendships, education, food and hygiene, financial impacts, long journeys, overcrowding, perceived safety, and access to services. Further qualitative research could examine the impact of interventions to address housing insecurity among families in the UK. Interventions with a participatory component that seek to ensure that the voices of children and young people remain central should be prioritised for further research. The voices of specific groups of young people who are likely to be marginalised (e.g., young carers) could be explored in future research. Future qualitative research should report methods of recruitment and data collection and analysis clearly and transparently, and should incorporate meaningful research reflexivity.

Conclusions

Housing insecurity has a profound impact on children and young people in families in the UK. Such housing insecurity can take many forms and result from often inter-related situations that are fundamentally connected to poverty. The resultant housing insecurity can have multiple (often simultaneous) impacts, including those that relate to educational, psychological, financial and family wellbeing impacts, having to travel long distances to attend school and see friends, and having to live in unsuitable, poorly repaired, overcrowded or noisy properties, any of which further exacerbate housing insecurity. Negative experiences can impact on health and wellbeing, in terms of mental health problems (which could manifest in physical ways) and physical health problems, as well as tiredness and developmental issues. Some experiences and situations can lessen the impact of housing insecurity on the health and wellbeing of children and young people. Negative impacts of housing insecurity on health and wellbeing may be further compounded by specific situations and life circumstances, such as escaping domestic violence, being a migrant, refugee or asylum seeker (or having a parent with that status), or experiencing a forced relocation due to housing demolition.

Availability of data and materials

All data presented in this review were already published, either in an academic journal, or a report that is publicly available. Search strings are available in Additional File 1. Data extracted from the published papers and reports included in the current study are available from the corresponding author on request.

the main social security payment in the UK; for more information see https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit

Abbreviations

Accident and Emergency (Department)

Authority, Accuracy, Coverage, Objectivity, Date, Significance

Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts

Bed and Breakfast (accommodation)

Critical Appraisal Skills Programme

Coronavirus Disease 2019

Families Intervention Project

United Kingdom

International Bibliography of the Social Sciences

National Institute for Health and Care Research

International prospective register of systematic reviews

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Acknowledgements

We wish to thank Katie Lewis and Liz Kitchin from the University of Sheffield for providing administrative support to the project, Karen Horrocks, from the UK Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, for revising the policy and practice implications, anonymous young people who provided PPI feedback on a lay summary and gave us an insight into key omissions from the evidence base, and Mary Crowder from the University of Sheffield for her support in accessing feedback from PPI members at a local youth organisation. We would also like to thank the policy and practice stakeholders and topic experts with whom we consulted to develop the initial conceptual framework.

This study is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Public Health programme (project reference 18/93 PHR Public Health Review Team). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.

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Emma S. Hock, Lindsay Blank, Hannah Fairbrother, Mark Clowes, Diana Castelblanco Cuevas, Andrew Booth & Elizabeth Goyder

Australian Centre for Housing Research, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia

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EH led the review, and undertook study selection, grey literature searching and selection, data extraction, quality assessment and coding, drafted the synthesis, and drafted and refined large parts of the manuscript. LB undertook study selection, data extraction, quality assessment and coding, compiled study characteristics, checked and refined the synthesis, and drafted and refined parts of the manuscript. HF undertook study selection, grey literature searching and selection, data extraction and quality assessment, co-ordinated patient and public involvement, provided topic expertise, checked and refined the synthesis, and drafted and refined parts of the manuscript. MC designed the search strategy, undertook database searches and drafted and refined parts of the manuscript. DCC undertook study selection and drafted and refined parts of the manuscript. AB provided methodological support and advice, checked and refined the synthesis, and drafted and refined parts of the manuscript. AC provided topic expertise and drafted and refined parts of the manuscript. EG undertook stakeholder consultation and protocol development, drafted and refined parts of the manuscript, and was the guarantor of the review. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Emma S. Hock .

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Hock, E.S., Blank, L., Fairbrother, H. et al. Exploring the impact of housing insecurity on the health and wellbeing of children and young people in the United Kingdom: a qualitative systematic review. BMC Public Health 24 , 2453 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-19735-9

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NPR fact-checked the Harris-Trump presidential debate. Here's what we found

Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speak during a presidential debate. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Vice President Harris and former President Donald Trump faced off Tuesday in their first — and possibly only — debate of the 2024 campaign, taking questions on key issues like the border, the economy and abortion.

With the candidates virtually tied in the polls, and just 55 days until Election Day, Trump and Harris sought to define their visions for America in front of a national audience and deflect attacks from the other side.

NPR reporters fact-checked the candidates' claims in real time . Here's what they found:

TRUMP: "I had no inflation, virtually no inflation. They had the highest inflation, perhaps in the history of our country, because I've never seen a worse period of time. People can't go out and buy cereal or bacon or eggs or anything else."

Inflation soared to a four-decade high of 9.1% in 2022, according to the consumer price index. While inflation has since fallen to 2.9% (as of July), prices — particularly food prices — are still higher than many Americans would like.

Other countries have also faced high inflation in the wake of the pandemic, as tangled supply chains struggled to keep pace with surging demand. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine also fueled inflation by driving up energy and food prices worldwide.

Government spending in the U.S. under both the Biden-Harris administration and Trump also may have contributed, putting more money in people’s pockets and enabling them to keep spending in the face of high prices.

While high prices are a source of frustration for many Americans, the average worker has more buying power today than she did before the pandemic. Since February 2020 (just before the pandemic took hold in the U.S.), consumer prices have risen 21.6% while average wages have risen 23%.

Many prices were depressed early in the pandemic, however, so the comparison is less flattering if you start the clock when President Biden and Vice President Harris took office. Since early 2021, consumer prices have risen 19.6%, while average wages have risen 16.9%. Wage gains have been outpacing price increases for over a year, so that gap should eventually close.

— NPR economics correspondent Scott Horsley

2024 Election

Taylor swift endorses kamala harris in instagram post after the debate.

HARRIS: "Donald Trump left us the worst unemployment since the Great Depression."

At the height of the Great Depression in 1933, the national unemployment rate was near 25%, according to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library.

At the start of the COVID pandemic, the unemployment rate peaked at 14.8% in April 2020, a level not seen since 1948, according to the Congressional Research Service.

But by the time Trump left office, unemployment had fallen to a lower, but still elevated, level. The January 2021 unemployment rate was 6.3%.

— NPR producer Lexie Schapitl

Immigration

TRUMP: "You see what's happening with towns throughout the United States. You look at Springfield, Ohio, you look at Aurora in Colorado. They are taking over the towns. They're taking over buildings. They're going in violently. These are the people that she and Biden let into our country, and they're destroying our country. They're dangerous. They're at the highest level of criminality, and we have to get them out."

Trump attacked Harris and Biden's records on immigration, arguing that they're failing to stem people from other countries from entering the U.S. and causing violence.

In the last two years, more than 40,000 Venezuelan immigrants have arrived in the Denver metro area. And it is true that many now live in Aurora.

A few weeks ago, a video of gang members in an Aurora, Colo., apartment building had right-wing media declaring the city's takeover by Venezuelan gangs. NPR looked into these claims .

Indian migrants drive surge in northern U.S. border crossings

Shortly after the video appeared, Colorado's Republican Party sent a fundraising letter claiming the state is under violent attack, and Venezuelan gangs have taken over Aurora.

It's also true Aurora police have recently arrested 10 members of a Venezuelan gang called Tren de Aragua. But Aurora's interim police chief, Heather Morris, says there's no evidence of a gang takeover of apartment buildings in her city.

What's more, violent crime — including murder, robbery and rape — is way down nationwide, according to the most recent data from the FBI . Notably, analysts predict violent crime rates this year will fall back down to where they were before they surged during the pandemic and may even approach a 50-year low.

Trump also claims that migrants are driving up crime rates in the U.S. That is not true. Researchers from Stanford University found that since the 1960s, immigrants have been 60% less likely to be incarcerated than people born in the U.S. The Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, found undocumented immigrants in Texas were 37% less likely to be convicted of a crime.

— NPR immigration correspondent Jasmine Garsd and criminal justice reporter Meg Anderson

TRUMP: "In Springfield, they're eating the dogs. The people that came in, they're eating the cats. They're eating the pets of the people that live there."

This remark refers to a debunked, dehumanizing claim that Haitian migrants living in Springfield, Ohio, are abducting pets and eating them .

Untangling Disinformation

Jd vance spreads debunked claims about haitian immigrants eating pets.

The claim, which local police say is baseless, first circulated among far-right activists, local Republicans and neo-Nazis before being picked up by congressional leaders, vice presidential candidate JD Vance and others. A well-known advocate for the Haitian community says she received a wave of racist harassment after Vance shared the theory on social media.

The Springfield News-Sun reported that local police said that incidents of pets being stolen or eaten were "not something that's on our radar right now." The paper said the unsubstantiated claim seems to have started with a post in a Springfield Facebook group that was widely shared across social media.

The claim is the latest example of Trump leaning into anti-immigrant rhetoric. Since entering the political arena in 2015, Trump accused immigrants of being criminals, rapists, or "poisoning the blood of our nation."

— NPR immigration correspondent Jasmine Garsd

TRUMP: "A lot of these illegal immigrants coming in, [Democrats] are trying to get them to vote."

It is illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections, and there is no credible evidence that it has happened in significant numbers, or that there is an effort underway to illegally register undocumented immigrants to vote this election.

Voter registration forms require voters to sign an oath — under penalty of perjury — that they are U.S. citizens. If a noncitizen lies about their citizenship on a registration form and votes, they have created a paper trail of a crime that is punishable with jail time and deportation.

“The deterrent is incredibly strong,” David Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, told NPR.

Illegal crossings hit Biden-era low as migrants wait longer for entry

Election officials routinely verify information on voter registration forms, which ask registrants for either a driver’s license number or the last four digits of Social Security numbers.

In 2016, the Brennan Center for Justice surveyed local election officials in 42 jurisdictions with high immigrant populations and found 30 cases of suspected noncitizens voting out of 23.5 million votes cast, or 0.0001%.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger launched an audit in 2022 that found fewer than 1,700 suspected noncitizens had attempted to register to vote over the past 25 years. None were able to vote.

— NPR disinformation reporter Jude Joffe-Block

TRUMP: "[Harris] was the border czar. Remember that she was the border czar."

Republicans have taken to calling Harris the "border czar" as a way to blame her for increased migration to the U.S. and what they see as border security policy failures of the Biden administration.

There is no actual "border czar" position. In 2021, President Biden tasked Harris with addressing the root causes of migration from Central America.

As Republicans attack Harris on immigration, here’s what her California record reveals

The "root causes strategy ... identifies, prioritizes, and coordinates actions to improve security, governance, human rights, and economic conditions in the region," the White House said in a statement. "It integrates various U.S. government tools, including diplomacy, foreign assistance, public diplomacy, and sanctions."

While Harris has been scrutinized on the right, immigration advocates have also criticized Harris, including for comments in 2021 where she warned prospective migrants, "Do not come."

TRUMP: "You could do abortions in the seventh month, the eighth month, the ninth month, and probably after birth."

As ABC News anchor Linsey Davis mentioned during her real-time fact check, there is no state where it is legal to kill a baby after birth (Trump called it "execution"). A report from KFF earlier this year also noted that abortions “after birth” are illegal in every state.

According to the Pew Research Center, the overwhelming majority of abortions — 93% — take place during the first trimester. Pew says 1% take place after 21 weeks. Most of those take place before 24 weeks, the approximate timeline for fetal viability, according to a report by KFF Health News.

Trump repeats the false claim that Democrats support abortion 'after birth' in debate

A separate analysis from KFF earlier this year noted that later abortions are expensive to obtain and offered by relatively few providers, and often occur because of medical complications or because patients face barriers earlier in their pregnancies.

“Nowhere in America is a woman carrying a pregnancy to term and asking for an abortion. That isn’t happening; it’s insulting to the women of America,” Harris said.

Harris also invoked religion in her response, arguing that “one does not have to abandon their faith” to agree that the government should not control reproductive health decisions.

As Davis also noted, Trump has offered mixed messages about abortion over the course of the campaign. He has bragged about his instrumental role in overturning Roe v. Wade , while appearing to backpedal on an issue that polling makes clear is a liability for Republicans.

— NPR political correspondent Sarah McCammon

Afghanistan

TRUMP: The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan "was one of the most incompetently handled situations anybody has ever seen."

Trump and Republicans in Congress say President Biden is to blame for the fall of Kabul to the Taliban three years ago, and the chaotic rush at the airport where 13 U.S. troops died in a suicide bomb attack that killed nearly 200 Afghan civilians trying to flee. Of late, Republicans have been emphasizing Harris’ role . But the Afghanistan war spanned four U.S. presidencies , and it's important to note that it was the Trump administration that signed a peace deal that was basically a quick exit plan.

Trump regularly claims there were no casualties in Afghanistan for 18 months under his administration, and it’s not true, according to Pentagon records.

— NPR veterans correspondent Quil Lawrence

Military policy

HARRIS: “There is not one member of the military who is in active duty in a combat zone in any war zone around the world for the first time this century.”

This is a common administration talking point, and it's technically true. But thousands of troops in Iraq and on the Syrian border are still in very dangerous terrain. U.S. troops died in Jordan in January on a base that keeps watch over the war with ISIS in Syria.

HARRIS: "I will not ban fracking. I have not banned fracking as vice president United States, and in fact, I was the tie-breaking vote on the inflation Reduction Act which opened new leases for fracking."

When she first ran for president in 2019, Harris had said she was firmly in favor of banning fracking — a stance she later abandoned when she joined President Biden’s campaign as his running mate.

In an interview with CNN last month, Harris attempted to explain why her position has changed from being against fracking to being in favor of it.

“What I have seen is that we can grow, and we can increase a clean energy economy without banning fracking,” Harris told CNN’s Dana Bash.

Harris says she won't ban fracking. What to know about the controversial topic

Under the Biden-Harris administration, the U.S. produced a record amount of oil last year — averaging 12.9 million barrels per day. That eclipsed the previous record of 12.3 million barrels per day, set under Trump in 2019. 2023 was also a record year for domestic production of natural gas . Much of the domestic boom in oil and gas production is the result of hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” techniques .

In addition to record oil and gas production, the Biden-Harris administration has also coincided with rapid growth of solar and wind power . Meanwhile, coal has declined as a source of electricity.

Health care

TRUMP: "I had a choice to make: Do I save [the Affordable Care Act] and make it as good as it can be, or do I let it rot? And I saved it."

During his presidency, Trump undermined the Affordable Care Act in many ways — for instance, by slashing funding for advertising and free "navigators" who help people sign up for a health insurance plan on HealthCare.gov. And rather than deciding to "save" the ACA, he tried hard to get Congress to repeal it, and failed. When pushed Tuesday on what health policy he would put in its place, he said he has "concepts of a plan."

Shots - Health News

Amid medicaid's 'unwinding,' many states work to expand health care access.

The Biden administration has reversed course from Trump's management of the Affordable Care Act. Increased subsidies have made premiums more affordable in the marketplaces, and enrollment has surged. The uninsurance rate has dropped to its lowest point ever during the Biden administration.

The Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010 and is entrenched in the health care system. Republicans successfully ran against Obamacare for about a decade, but it has faded as a campaign issue this year.

— NPR health policy correspondent Selena Simmons-Duffin

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As Debate Looms, Trump Is Now the One Facing Questions About Age and Capacity

With President Biden no longer in the race, former President Donald J. Trump would be the oldest person ever to serve in the Oval Office. But his rambling, sometimes incoherent public statements have stirred concern among voters.

• Share full article

By Peter Baker

Reporting from Washington

The last time the nation held a debate with the presidency on the line, a candidate with about eight decades of life behind him faced the challenge of proving that he was still up to the job of running the country. He failed .

Two and a half months later, the cast of characters has shifted and another candidate heading toward the octogenarian club confronts his own test to demonstrate that he has not diminished with age. Whether he passes that test may influence who will be the next occupant of the Oval Office.

At 78, former President Donald J. Trump exhibits more energy and speaks with more volume than President Biden does at 81, but he, too, has mixed up names, confused facts and stumbled over his points. Mr. Trump’s rambling speeches, sometimes incoherent statements and extreme outbursts have raised questions about his own cognitive health and, according to polls, stimulated doubts among a majority of voters.

With Mr. Biden now out of the race, the politics of age have been turned on their head. Mr. Trump is now the oldest person ever to run for president on a major party ticket and, if he wins, would become the oldest president in history by the end of his term, when he would be 82. While he managed to sidestep questions about his own capacity while Mr. Biden was his opponent, the rival he will square off against at Tuesday’s prime-time debate in Philadelphia will be Vice President Kamala Harris, who at 59 is nearly two decades younger.

The issue has been propelled back into the campaign by some of Mr. Trump’s recent public performances, most notably a meandering, hard-to-follow answer to a question on child care at the Economic Club of New York last week. Asked how he would help American working families stressed by the cost of taking care of children, Mr. Trump wandered through a thicket of unfinished sentences, non sequitur clauses and confusing logic that tied the answer to tariffs on imports.

Speaking at the Economic Club of New York, Mr. Trump gave a rambling answer when asked what he would do to lower the cost of child care.

“If you win in November, can you commit to prioritizing legislation to make child care affordable? And if so, what specific piece of legislation will you advance?” “Well, I would do that. And we’re sitting down, you know, I was — somebody, we had Senator Marco Rubio and my daughter, Ivanka, was so impactful on that issue. It’s a very important issue. But I think when you talk about the kind of numbers that I’m talking about that — because, look, child care is child care. It couldn’t, you know, there’s something — you have to have it in this country. You have to have it. But when you talk about those numbers compared to the kind of numbers that I’m talking about, by taxing foreign nations at levels that they’re not used to, but they’ll get used to it very quickly. And it’s not going to stop them from doing business with us. But they’ll have a very substantial tax when they send product into our country. Those numbers are so much bigger than any numbers that we’re talking about, including child care, that it’s going to take care. We’re going to have — I look forward to having no deficits within a fairly short period of time, coupled with the reductions that I told you about on waste and fraud and all of the other things that are going on in our country because I have to stay with child care. I want to stay with child care. But those numbers are small relative to the kind of economic numbers that I’m talking about.”

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