Child obesity a 'health catastrophe' needing urgent action

The Irish Heart Foundation claims childhood obesity is a "health catastrophe" which the Government must address now or suffer long-term consequences.

"We can't really quantify or understand how big an impact it's going to be," said Chris Macey, Head of Advocacy at the Irish Heart Foundation.

"Apart from the actual physical health, it's going to have huge mental impacts on people."

The foundation is calling for a €30m fund to be set up in the Budget to tackle the issue.

It said the Children's Future Health Fund could be financed by a 20% tax on sugar-sweetened drinks, which the IHF believes could bring in as much as €60m for the exchequer.