The UK could face a severe shortfall of nearly half a million doctors and nurses by 2043 due to the impact of childhood hunger, according to new research by Arla, the UK’s largest dairy cooperative. The study highlights that an estimated four million children arrive at school each day without having eaten breakfast, which puts them at a significant disadvantage in learning and achieving their potential.
The findings suggest that this widespread hunger could result in a shortage of 455,000 doctors and nurses, 413,000 veterinarians, and 289,000 teachers in the next two decades. The consequences of hunger extend beyond immediate discomfort, with research indicating that children who skip breakfast regularly are likely to lag behind by two grades in their GCSEs compared to their peers who eat in the morning.
By the age of eleven, most children have already decided on their future careers, with common aspirations including becoming doctors or nurses (11%), professional athletes (12%), and vets (10%). However, these ambitions often require top academic performance, which is hindered by hunger-induced concentration difficulties. Dr Simon Moore, a behavioural science expert, explains that hunger triggers the production of the hormone Ghrelin, which diminishes attention spans and leads to distracted and less tolerant behaviour, thereby creating barriers to learning.
Arla’s research also reveals that 84% of parents notice negative changes in their children’s behaviour when they are hungry, with nearly half reporting increased irritability and a notable proportion observing reduced concentration. Despite the clear benefits of a nutritious breakfast, fewer than one in five parents report having access to a free breakfast club at their child’s school. Many parents must pay for such services, while others are unaware of their availability or find that no breakfast club exists at their school.
The disparity in access to breakfast clubs is contributing to what Arla describes as the “Empty Tummy Disadvantage,” which places hungry children at a distinct educational disadvantage. The dairy cooperative has partnered with the charity Magic Breakfast to tackle this issue, providing Arla Cravendale milk for over 8.5 million bowls of cereal as part of their effort to ensure no child in the UK goes hungry at the start of the school day.
Lucy Norman, a primary school teacher at Campsbourne Primary School, has witnessed the detrimental effects of childhood hunger firsthand. “The sad reality of being a teacher is seeing children starting at a disadvantage because they’re hungry, which immediately impacts their ability to learn. Children that are hungry are often less able to concentrate and keep engaged in lessons, which has knock-on effects on their learning development,” she says. Norman advocates for the expansion of free breakfast clubs to give all children a fair chance to succeed.
Arla’s Head of Milk, Catriona Mantle, emphasises the importance of addressing this issue: “No child should have to attend school on an empty stomach; however, we know this is sadly the reality for many children in the UK. At Arla, we believe in closing the hunger gap and ensuring healthy and nutritious dairy is available to all. Together with Magic Breakfast, we are raising awareness of the Empty Tummy Disadvantage and encouraging as many people as possible to add their voices in #BackingBreakfast.”
The partnership between Arla and Magic Breakfast, which began in 2020, continues to raise awareness of the impact of childhood hunger and seeks to ensure every child has access to a nutritious start to their day. To learn more and support their efforts, visit Arla’s website.