Nutrition policy: Details of a new national nutrition policy aimed at combating overweight and obesity among under-18s will be unveiled today.
The policy, which is being finalised by the health promotion unit of the Department of Health, aims to increase - over the next five to 10 years - the percentage of young people who consume the recommended daily servings of food for a healthy diet.
Food and nutrition guidelines have been drawn up for pre- school and primary school children, and others are now being devised for second-level schools.
The policy document also aims to increase fruit and vegetable intake among young people. While at present it is recommended they consume four or more portions of fruit and vegetables a day, the recommended intake is now to be increased.
Ursula O'Dwyer, national nutrition policy adviser, said the idea was to get children into the habit of having fruit, rather than sugary drinks or treats, as snacks.
She said "obesity and food poverty" wo'uld be the key areas targeted in the policy document.
A recent study indicated, she said, that 11 per cent of boys were overweight and 9 per cent of them were obese, while 12 per cent of girls were overweight and a further 12 per cent were obese.
The policy document, she added, also wanted what were termed obesogenic environments tackled so that healthy food choices rather than just fast food outlets, for example, were available in each neighbourhood. It recommends the appointment of more dieticians.
"What we really want to do is try to catch children young enough . . . to stop them moving into the obese category, which would increase their chances of getting type 2 diabetes," she said.
Research undertaken by the health promotion unit has shown that while young people are knowledgeable about the causes and health outcomes of being overweight, they continue to make unhealthy food choices.
Minister of State at the Department of Health Seán Power will today announce funding to target obesity among young people.
Meanwhile, safefood, the Food Safety Promotion Board, advised parents yesterday to reduce the amount of treat foods in their child's diet to prevent them having long-term health problems.
Dr Cliodhna Foley-Nolan, chief public health specialist of safefood, said that as a society we had forgotten how to treat children and were using treats as part of every meal.
"We're trying to get parents to rethink what is a treat . . . Are we looking at the range of treats that we might consider, like trips to the cinema or trips to the swimming pool?" she asked.
"It is crucial that parents realise that treat foods tend to contain very few nutrients other than calories, fat or sugar."
Treats such as biscuits, cakes, ice-cream and crisps reduce a child's energy levels, giving an initial burst of glucose but resulting in a slump and concentration difficulties later in the day.
Children's sports performance can also be affected, as a disproportionate amount of nutritionally poor food does not allow for healthy physical development.
The board advises parents that school lunchboxes should provide children with a balanced meal, including fruit, protein (cheese or meat) and a non-carbonated drink like water or milk.