Respecting food - Teach diet in our schools

Cathal O’Shea, who lost 21 stone in weight in just over a year as a result of a regime of dieting, exercise and eating healthy food, has been inundated with calls from people seeking his advice on losing weight. He is planning to work professionally in the area of weight loss motivation.

In a week in which the Irish Examiner is running a special report on eating disorders, it is worth remembering that eating disorders come in various forms with the consequences ranging from anorexia to obesity. There is obviously a need for a proactive approach to the whole area of diet and proper eating habits.

People can go through the educational system from primary through secondary school, and on to university without ever spending so much as an hour of class time studying diet. Learning about a proper diet should be a fundamental part of the education system.

Diet should be included in the examination curriculum because of the health ramifications. It can have vital implications for the quality of life and a vast amount of public money could be saved if people were that bit healthier.

Everyone would be a winner.