Some 13 per cent of girls and 9 per cent of boys in Irish primary schools are classified as obese, according to a new study.
Four out of 10 children exceed the recommended levels of fat in their diets, and their consumption of fruit and vegetables is well below international standards, the Government-funded study published today finds.
The first Scientific Study on Children's Diet, which was presented at a conference in Dublin today, studied 600 children aged between five and 12 years from primary schools throughout Ireland in 2003 and 2004.
It was carried out by researchers at Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork.
The study found 40 per cent of children exceed the recommendations for overall fat intake. It also found Irish children are not getting enough vital nutrients through fruit and vegetables, and that their daily salt intake is higher than the levels recommended by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.
Processed meats and bread are their main salt sources.
According to the report, the current prevalence of obesity in five- to 12-year-olds is 9 per cent in boys and 13 per cent in girls. Some 11 per cent of boys and 12 per cent of girls are considered overweight.
Obesity levels in children have increased by as much as 14 per cent in the past 15 years, according to the report.
Dr Sinead McCarthy, Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin, who co-ordinated the study, said that the steady rise of overweight and obesity in schoolchildren must be tackled urgently.
"The home environment is critical in shaping eating behaviours and physical activity habits in this age group. We need to identify ways to help parents to create a healthier home environment for children," she said.
Minister for Agriculture and Food Mary Coughlan welcomed the study, which was presented at a conference in Dublin.
Ms Coughlan said the study was "very timely" given the recent Obesity Task Force report, as it provides Irish families with up-to-date information for planning balanced healthy lifestyles. It will also allow the food industry to tailor product development and promotion accordingly, she said.
The first scientific study to benchmark dietary intakes of a representative sample of Irish children was carried out by the Irish Universities Nutrition Alliance and was funded by the Department of Agriculture and Food under the "Food Institutional Research Measure" and co-funded by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.