Plan to weigh schoolchildren in battle against obesity

Children could be weighed on their first day of primary school in an drastic attempt to address Ireland’s rising obesity epidemic.

Dr Edna Roche, consultant paediatric endocrinologist at Tallaght Hospital and head of paediatrics at Trinity College, revealed the move yesterday at the AGM of the Irish Medical Organisation.

Under the proposal — which is still being discussed by specialists, GPs, the HSE and Department of Health officials — children as young as four will be checked for signs of obesity when they start school.

If they are considered overweight, or if their diet is seen as a potential cause for concern, their GP will be informed and they will be referred to obesity specialists for additional support.

The move is being considered at a time when Ireland’s childhood obesity levels are continuing to raise concerns across the country.

Childhood obesity has also been described by the World Health Organisation as a “global epidemic”.

Dr Clíodhna Foley-Nolan, director of human health and nutrition at Safefood, said the weighing of children needs to become normalised, and be treated the same way an eye test is.

But, the obesity expert said, it would require parental education and a cultural shift and could not be seen as negative, insulting or something which could stigmatise a child.

“I am not sure the first day of school would be the best time, but we need to monitor children’s weight.”

She said it was important weighing was seen as part of a child’s overall well-being.

The European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, states one-in-five Irish children and teenagers aged five to 17 are overweight or obese. This is despite the fact that four out of five are thought to be of average weight by their parents.

The International Obesity Task Force states 200m schoolchildren are overweight with 40-50m obese.