Experts say half of adults will be obese by 2030

Almost half of Irish adults will be obese by 2030 if childhood overweight and obesity are not tackled now, medical experts have warned.

There are currently 300,000 overweight and 100,000 obese children in Ireland at risk of developing heart disease, stroke, multiple cancers, and infertility in adulthood.

Consultant paediatrician at Temple St Children’s Hospital in Dublin, Dr Sinead Murphy, told the Oireachtas committee on health and children yesterday that not enough was being done to treat children with a serious weight problem.