Less well-off children more likely to be obese

CHILDREN from “less socio-economically advantaged” households are more likely to be overweight than those from professional classes.

The study authors warn that the finding is significant since inequalities in overweight among children will contribute to inequalities in adult health and death in the coming decades.

The Growing Up in Ireland study found children, particularly girls, living in unskilled manual working class households, are more likely to be overweight, compared with children from professional households. In gender terms, boys and girls from professional households have about the same probability of being overweight or obese — boys 19% and girls 18%.