Parents shun free scheme to tackle child obesity

A free HSE programme designed to empower parents to tackle their child’s increasing weight had such poor take up that it is now under review, at a time when childhood obesity is a major national health concern.

While the families of 95 seven-year-olds, of whom 86 were obese and 9 overweight, were offered monthly dietician-led sessions for six months, just 51 made an appointment with the service.

Of those, only 37 actually showed up. At the end of the six months, just 18 had stayed the course.