One in five primary school children is overweight 

The problem is more prevalent in girls, particularly in later primary classes

Picture: iStock 

THE number of primary school children in Ireland who are overweight or obese is dropping overall – but more than one-third of fourth-to-sixth class children in designated disadvantaged schools are overweight and obese.

This is according to the latest Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI), part of a WHO-EU initiative. It surveyed 5,710 first-to-sixth class children in 135 primary schools and found one in five overweight/obese. And the problem’s more prevalent in girls, particularly in later primary.