Irish boys are more likely to eat breakfast, use cannabis and enjoy a closer relationship with their fathers than their female peers, according to a new World Health Organisation report.
The report, Health Inequalities in Young People's Health, presents findings on key health and well-being measures in young people in 41 countries across Europe and North America. It was launched by the Health Promotion Research Centre in NUI Galway today.
Irish children rank highly on many positive health indicators, including physical activity (top 10) and breakfast eating (top 10) and report relatively low levels of health complaints (bottom 10) and medically attended injuries (bottom 10).
However there are consistent inequalities between children based on family affluence and gender.
Children from poorer families are less likely to have breakfast and eat fruit, and consume more soft drinks than their more affluent counterparts. They are also more likely to smoke, be out at night with friends and watch more television.
At age 15, Irish girls report more health complaints than boys (40 per cent compared to 25 per cent) and are twice as likely to think they are too fat. Girls are more likely than boys to feel they are doing well at school and to feel supported by their classmates. However, they are more likely to feel pressured by their schoolwork than boys.
Commenting on the report, Dr Saoirse Nic Gabhainn from the Health Promotion Research Centre in Galway, said it was a landmark publication.
"This is the first time that inequalities in youth health have been systematically documented by age, gender, affluence and geography across so many countries," she said.
"The report is good news for Ireland, we have held on to our position near the top of the physical activity league, and have improved on sweets and soft drink consumption, as well as tooth brushing, where we had performed poorly in previous international surveys."