Obesity problem - Children must lead a more active life

WITH obesity responsible for about 2,500 deaths in Ireland annually, a recent survey again graphically illustrates that the problem has to be addressed with urgency, especially in young people.

An all-island survey of 20,000 schoolchildren in different age groups and grades, revealed results that emphasise that there exists a problem of startling proportions.

In the past four years, the number of obese children has tripled from 5% to 15%, and the number of fat children has doubled to 30%.