A healthy, balanced diet combined with an active lifestyle is paramount in maintaining a healthy weight. Unfortunately today in Ireland, many children do little exercise and eat a diet that contains too much of the wrong types of food.
Also speaking at the launch of the report was Professor Patrick Wall of the UCD School of Public Health and Population Science. Pat reiterated that obesity in children ‘has reached epidemic levels in Ireland, with many overweight children going on to become overweight adults’.
Pat also commented on how the consequences of obesity are far reaching, with it potentially leading to increased health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and joint problems.
The report found that where family meals were eaten, they tended to contain a balanced diet. However a significant number of children, particularly those from low socioeconomic groups, reported eating two to three takeaway meals a week.
Children who took part in the study were asked to work with their families to come up with ways that may help them to lead healthier and more active lives. The top three ideas they had were exercising regularly, eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and walking instead of driving to school and work.
The research involved 12 groups of children - six from primary schools and six from secondary schools - in Dublin, Kildare and Cork. It was carried out as part of Pfizer’s ‘Way2Go’ initiative.
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