One in five teens are overweight or obese

A NATIONAL food survey of Irish teenagers has revealed that one in five is overweight or obese, with the rate in boys increasing faster than in girls.

One in three teens do not eat fruit and four out of five do not get enough fibre. Overall, fat and salt intakes are too high, and although participation in physical activities is high, teens spend a lot of time watching TV.

A research team, based at University College Cork and University College Dublin, concluded that while most teens are a healthy weight, clear guidelines are needed to promote healthy eating and physical activity habits.

The survey by the Irish National Universities Nutrition Alliance (IUNA) found Irish teenagers are gaining weight. Many have poor dietary habits which can damage their health, both in the short term and later in adult life.

The year-long study involved 450 teens, aged 13-17, from schools throughout Ireland. It complemented a similar study for 5-12 year olds.

Professor Michael Gibney, Institute of Food and Health, UCD, said the rise of overweight and obesity in teenagers must be tackled.

More than 50% of teenagers exceed the recommended dietary intake of fat and salt — the main sources of salt were processed meats and bread.

Intakes of fruit and vegetables were well below international recommendations, with one in three eating no fruit at all. And four of five teens do not get enough fibre.

Typical diets were also found to be low in vitamins A and D, iron, calcium and folic acid, all of which have important roles in growth and development.

Insufficient calcium intake was linked to diets low in milk, cheese and yoghurt. The milk consumed was mainly full fat, and averaged only half a pint per day.

Teens drink an average of one-and-half glasses of soft drinks (mainly sugar sweetened) and a half glass of bottled water per day.

The study revealed that since 1990 the prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased from 6% to 19% in boys and from 15% to 17% in girls. However, four out of five teens have a healthy bodyweight.

Participation in physical activities both in and outside school was relatively high.

One third spent more than two hours watching TV on weekdays and two thirds watch TV for more than two hours at the weekend.

The researchers said that such periods of inactivity might be linked to unhealthy eating behaviours.

The survey confirmed that teens with overweight or obese parents were more likely to be overweight or obese themselves.

Professor Albert Flynn, Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences at UCC, said clear guidelines that focus on appropriate portion sizes, lower consumption of fat and salt, and higher intakes of micronutrient-rich foods, fibre, fruits and vegetables are needed.