Excessive stress making kids lose appetite and sleep

Almost half of children are losing sleep due to stress, while more than one in ten are not able to eat, a new study has revealed.

According to a survey, the majority of ten to 14-year-olds are fretting about their exams, with 21 percent also saying that their concerns have caused them to avoid friends.

Dharmendra Kanani, director for Big Lottery Fund England, which commissioned the survey, said that it gave them a window into what is going on in the minds of young people.

He added that for many young people, their self-esteem, confidence or peer pressure can become deeply troubling, Metro.co.uk reported.

The poll also showed 58 percent of children felt stressed or worried at least once a week, with more than one in six saying it happened daily.

The government's Chief medical officer, Prof Dame Sally Davies, said that they already know most lifelong mental health problems start to develop by the time a child reaches 14.

He added therefore it is vital that they are identified and get the support and treatment they need as early as possible.

While exams have topped the list of their concerns, 31 percent felt burdened by family problems and 30 percent by the threat of being bullied at school.