Obesity problem - Government must fund PE in schools

THAT obesity is emerging as a serious health problem in Ireland is not surprising given the dominance of television, computer games, and junk food in modern society.

Equally unsurprising is the hypocrisy of a Government which bemoans the lack of sporting activities among young people. The blunt reality is that in 2003 and again this year the Coalition did not pay the annual physical education grants which 1,270 primary schools across the country were due to get.

Launching a new report on obesity yesterday, Health Minister Micheál Martin warned it will be the major epidemic of the next decade, not just in Ireland but globally.