Doctors urge end to sweet snacks in school

ALL snack and drink vending machines should be removed from schools, with one-in-five Irish people now obese, the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) demanded yesterday.

The doctors’ group revealed that 39% of the adult population are overweight, and 18% are obese, with a higher number of men affected than women.

Dr Asam Ishtiaq, president of the IMO, said that the obesity epidemic was already a serious problem in Ireland.

“That is going to have a serious knock-on effect on our health services, which are already under strain,” he said.

“The earlier obesity onset leads to diabetes, diabetes leads to kidney diseases, leads to heart diseases.”

The IMO called on Education Minister Mary Hanafin to remove all snack and drink vending machines from State-owned educational and health premises.

Doctors urged that all fast food and drink advertising be banned from television before 9pm, and the primary schools curriculum promote physical activity to combat obesity.

Dr James O’Reilly, a general practitioner, said there was clearly a need for the State to become involved in future planning to tackle the problem, described by the World Health Organisation as a global epidemic.

“For our children, there would be more exercises in schools, more emphasis on nutrition in schools, the removal of vending machines with rich sugary drinks and snacks, and make healthier options available,” Dr O’Reilly said.