Russell Group universities, like Oxford, lead to better health outcomes (Credits: Getty Images)
Children who went to private school or a Russell Group university have better health in midlife, according to a new study.
The research, by University College London (UCL), found that those who were privately educated were more likely to have a lower BMI and blood pressure and to perform better on a cognitive task by the age of 46 than those who went to state schools.
It also found that people who went to Russell Group universities – such as Oxford, Cambridge, Bristol, University College London and Exeter – performed better on memory and attention tests.
Published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, it reported a 14% lower BMI in those who went to private school versus state school. Studying at a Russell Group university was linked to a 16% better memory recall.
‘Both private school and higher-status university attendance were related to favourable health outcomes,’ wrote the researchers.
They added that, if the status of schooling is the cause of better health, future policies that look at reducing health inequalities need to look not just at qualifications and achievements, but also education quality.
Being educated at high-status schools and universities can lead to better health habits as you age (Credits: Getty Images)
Around 11.7 million people in the UK live in poverty, according to the latest stats. Meanwhile, private schools charge an average of £17,000 a year for day students and £40,000 for boarders, though there’s huge variety in costs.
And this disparity proves that there’s more to the health status of private school goers than just their education.
‘The contrast in the results in the study are concerning, but this is part of a larger problem the UK is facing,’ says Tina Woods, a social entrepreneur and the CEO of Business for Health, a business-led social venture supporting innovation and investment in preventative health and care.
How wealth improves health
According to the study, some reasons why private school and Russell Group educations may lead to better health outcomes include having more resources and facilities to support activity, improved job and financial prospects and being surrounded by people with different health behaviours and cultural norms.
‘Finally, higher-status institutions may have more cognitively stimulating environments through having smaller class sizes, more experienced teachers and high-achieving peers; this may benefit cognition in adolescence, across adulthood and ultimately health in midlife,’ they write.
But let’s not forget that, if you’ve attended private school, you likely grew up in a wealthier family – and money vastly improves health outcomes.
A 2020 study from the Journal of Gerontology, looking at data from over 10,000 people, found that being wealthy adds nine years to your healthy life expectancy, preventing disease and disability.
‘Health inequalities are linked to broader social determinants of health, including income levels, poverty, access to high-quality nutrition, jobs and housing, as well as levels of physical activity that vary across the regions,’ says Woods.
According to research from last year by
Source:: Metro
