Surge in obese homeless children referrals

A children’s weight management service has seen a marked increase in clinically obese homeless children being referred for treatment this year.

Last month five children who were homeless for three to four years were referred to the W82Go! Weight Management Service at Temple Street Children’s University Hospital in Dublin.

Concern about the noticeable increase in the rate of homeless children being referred to the service was highlighted at yesterday’s meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs.